Squinty bridge closed

Engineers are trying to establish what caused a support cable to snap and crash down on the newest bridge over the River Clyde in Glasgow. The Clyde Arc bridge - better known as the "Squinty Bridge" - has been closed since a loud snapping noise was heard at about 2330 GMT on Monday night.

The bridge between Finnieston and Pacific Quay opened in 2006. Its designers and builders have now carried out an initial inspection into what went wrong. Further inspection by designers Halcrow and civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd, who built the bridge, is due to be carried out later on Tuesday afternoon.

It is hoped engineers will then have a better idea of the full extent of the damage, and how long the bridge will need to remain closed. A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said the damaged cable, which fell onto the carriageway, would be sent back to the manufacturers for testing.

In the meantime efforts were being made to organise traffic management systems, she said.

The spokeswoman added: "The bridge is designed to allow for struts to be removed one at a time to be repaired. We don't believe the bridge's integrity is at risk, but it has been closed for public safety reasons."