Straw bale hung from Millennium Bridge in tradition

A straw bale has been dangled from London's Millennium Bridge as part of an "ancient tradition" to warn passing boats of work on the capital's Thames crossings.

The ancient Port of London Thames bylaw is triggered when abseilers work under the arches of bridges, reducing space to pass.

At night, the straw bale will be replaced on the Millennium Bridge with a light.

The crossing, which opened in 2000, was closed on Saturday for three weeks for cleaning and so that urgent repairs can be carried out.

According to the Port of London Thames Byelaws, clause 36.2: “When the headroom of an arch or span of a bridge is reduced from its usual limits, but that arch or span is not closed to navigation, the person in control of the bridge must suspend from the centre of that arch or span by day a bundle of straw large enough to be conspicuous and by night a white light.”

City Bridge Foundation, the charity that looks after five of London's Thames crossings, says a layer of membrane has started to degrade and needs replacing.

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