The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were dressed like a couple of construction workers when they visited a unique Sunderland bridge which the city hopes will help regeneration in the area.
Wearing hard hats, safety goggles and high visibility jackets the couple appeared ready to join efforts putting the finishing touches to the bridge due to open in the Spring.
William and Kate ended a trip to the north east by visiting the striking Northern Spire already a major landmark and standing twice as high as Nelson’s Column and taller than Big Ben’s clock tower.
William and Kate arriving for a visit to the Fire Station arts centre in Sunderland (Jane Barlow/PA)
The 1,550-tonne pylon bridge is the second part of the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor – a five-phase plan to improve links between the A19 and Sunderland City Centre and the Port of Sunderland.
The Northern Spire – named following a public vote – will help reduce congestion around the city, speed up car journeys and allow land along both sidesof the River Wear to be regenerated and developed.
The Sunderland City Council project – due to be completed this Spring – was built over three years and cost £117 million, with the Government contributing around two-thirds of the funds and the council the rest.