A TEMPORARY bridge is being installed to give people access to the war memorial at Lymm for Remembrance Sunday.

For the past two years, the annual service has been held elsewhere at St Mary's Church in the village after a wall collapsed.

It made the cenotaph inaccessible.

Now work will start today, Tuesday, to create a path for people to access the memorial on Sunday, November 12.

The work is being carried out by Warrington Borough Council which is responsible for looking after the church on Rectory Lane.

Rev Bev Jameson, Rector at St Mary's, said: "Warrington Borough Council, who are responsible for the maintenance of St Mary’s Lymm churchyard and repairs to the collapsed wall, have commissioned a company to erect a temporary bridge 1.2metres wide by 150metres long over the existing pathway to enable access to Lymm War Memorial for Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

"Construction will take place from October 24 to November 7.

"There are steps either ends of the bridge and it is not accessible for wheelchairs.

"During the Remembrance Service there will be marshals at each end to assist people up and down the steps.

"All those who need to lay wreaths will be asked to cross the bridge.

" Other people are encouraged watch the act of remembrance from the car park or on the path by the church. It is unclear when the wall may be repaired by Warrington Borough Council in 2024."

A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The wall at St Mary’s Church in Lymm collapsed in 2020 resulting in the lower area of the churchyard, including the Cenotaph, becoming inaccessible due to safety concerns. As a result, the annual remembrance service has been conducted in other areas of the churchyard for the past two years.

“The work to repair the wall will be complex and costly due to its historic nature.

"Work is ongoing to find an appropriate solution and repair works will hopefully commence next year.

“In the meantime, the church and local residents have requested access to the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday this year and we have been working with the church to find a suitable solution.

"As the location presents significant challenges, the temporary walkway that has been agreed is the only feasible option available.”