After a wait of three years - and then a countdown of 10 seconds - the new bridge in Great Yarmouth has finally opened.

Sir Brandon Lewis MP stood on the control tower and pressed the button to lower the two bridge leaves at 11am on Thursday, February 1.

He said the moment was a culmination of years of hard work and said he was excited to be involved in the ceremony.

Eastern Daily Press: The first vehicles to cross the new £121m Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth. The first vehicles to cross the new £121m Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley)

 

He also mentioned the "trauma" of the unexploded Second World War discovered last year.

He then led a ten-second countdown - accompanied by the hundreds of onlookers - before pressing the button to close the leaves.

Once they were lowered, the bridge saw its first procession - including classic cars from East Coast Pirates, the seafront road train, a fire engine, a First Bus and local taxis, among others.

Eastern Daily Press: The plaque marking the bridge's openingThe plaque marking the bridge's opening (Image: Newsquest)

They were followed by local running groups and schoolchildren. 

Before the opening, Rev Simon Ward had led the onlookers in prayer, asking for safe passage for all those who use the bridge and sail under it. 

Eastern Daily Press: Melissa Esherwood, one of the eight people who won the competition to name the Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth. Melissa Esherwood, one of the eight people who won the competition to name the Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Melissa Esherwood, 48, was one of the eight people who won the competition to name the bridge.

Her family has deep roots in the town's old herring fishing industry.

Her grandfather, Bob Esherwood, worked as head tank man at the Swardston fish house - now the Time and Tide Museum.

Later, he worked as a 'love boy' - this was the name for the people who climbed up to the rafters in smoke houses to hang the herring.

The rafters were known colloquially as 'loves'.

"It's a part of my family's heritage," Ms Esherwood said.

"It's quite an honour to be able to bring back a little bit of Great Yarmouth's history."

She said that the opening of the Herring Bridge today was "part of the town's history".

"It's something to tell your children. Hopefully they will pass down the stories, and hopefully keep it going."