Work to restore an historic wooden bridge is expected to start this month.

The Old Shoreham toll bridge was built in the 1781 and is a Grade II listed structure.

It provided the main road crossing over the River Adur until it was closed to traffic in 1970.

The bridge remains a popular route for walkers and cyclists but is in urgent need of repair to stop it crumbling away.

Work to replace the main crossbeams carrying the decking and handrails is expected to start within the next few weeks.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a £192,000 grant towards the £500,000 cost of the project.

The Old Shoreham Tollbridge Community Trust has also secured a £50,000 grant from Viridor Credits and has raised £40,000 itself.

West Sussex County Council, which owns the bridge, has contributed £100,000 and underwritten the outstanding amount to allow work to start.

The repairs are expected to take about ten months but the bridge will be kept open as much as possible during that time.

Liza McKinney, chair of the bridge trust, said: "We are delighted the start of the work has finally been agreed."