The start of repair works on the steps of Wallingford Bridge has been heralded as the end of a saga by the town’s mayor.

Metal fencing and orange cones have appeared by the stairs of the medieval bridge as contractors started the three-week repairs.

Mayor Dan Beauchamp, who joined other town councillors at the site on Friday (August 11), said: “There’s been an ongoing issue with the stairs even before I was a councillor.

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“It was just general wear and tear over time. It’s an old bridge and it needs regular maintenance.

“The repairs were delayed during covid, and it’s just been one of those ongoing sagas and we are finally now at the end.

“It’s one of those annoying things as a councillor that you can’t go and do it yourself. We were pestering and nagging and so it feels good to finally see it getting done.”