New access to one of the most popular Norfolk Broads tourist hotspots has been celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It is hoped that a new 50m boardwalk at Salhouse Broad will vastly improve access for frequent visitors to the Broad who use wheelchairs, scooters and buggies - who were previously restricted by a muddy path with a difficult incline.

The board walk has been purchased through funds raised at events such as Easter egg and Halloween horror hunts, and the Broad's annual raft race.

The construction of the majority of the boardwalk was carried out by five second-year construction apprentices from City College Norwich, with preliminary works and final touches assisted by the Norfolk and Suffolk Probationary Trust's Community Payback team.

The students, who attend City College for one day a week from local high schools, spent a week working on the project before it was officially opened on Saturday.

Tobi Baker, countryside ranger at Salhouse Broad, said: 'We were really lucky to get a group of enthusiastic young people involved in this project. It is important for the youth of today to see what a difference they can make to their community and this boardwalk really proves that.

'A lot of older people and families with young children enjoy visiting the Broad and this walkway makes it considerably easier to access the play area and look-out platform at the western end of the Broad.'

The five young apprentices – Emanuels Jurjavicus, Rhys Marjoram, Rhys Waring, Dylan Ames and Joshus Mallett – worked together to measure out the area where they were upgrading the path, cleared and dug out the ground, cut wooden slats to fit and levelled the boards for an even finish.

City College Norwich workforce consultant, Campbell MacKellar, who worked with the young apprentices on the project, added: 'This has been a brilliant experience for the students. There was a real sense of accomplishment in starting with a blank canvas to completing the finished section of boardwalk by the end of the week.

'The young apprentices worked really well as a team to complete the project.'

Have you got a Salhouse story? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk