TWO new footbridges that have been built by students are set to installed in the Ribble Valley.

The structures will be put up in Simonstone as part of the Martholme Greenway project which aims to eventually link Great Harwood to Padiham.

The two footbridges, which will connect Simonstone Lane to Gooseleech Wood, will be installed on Saturday, June 10, after planning permission was granted.

The Blackburn College students got involved with the scheme through Dr John Barker, who chairs the Martholme Greenway Group and is academic subject leader for engineering at the college’s University Centre.

Lee Paterson and Adam Lucas are both in the final year of their mechanical engineering degrees.

Mr Lucas, 35, from Blackburn said: “When John approached the group with the opportunity I jumped at the chance.

“I took the opportunity up as it’s incredibly unusual for two degree students to be able to build a public footbridge that will actually be installed and used.

“There won’t be many degree students that can say they have built a bridge as part of their final year project and that it’s now in use.”

Mr Paterson, 34, from Darwen, said: “I’m thrilled that the project has been given the green-light.

"We’ll now be adding the finishing touches to the bridges before they are installed.

“It has been an incredible opportunity for me as a mature student, who had a working life before this one, to see my efforts to improve my opportunities being realised in such a high-profile engineering project."

The project has been funded by the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme and supported by Sustrans.