AN eye-catching footbridge that links the new Saints stadium to the town centre will be installed in the next few days.

The red and white, rugby ball-inspired bridge will cross the St Helens Linkway to provide a walking and cycling route to the stadium site.

The intricate process of assembling and lifting it into place over the Linkway East started this week, St Helens Council confirmed.

It will connect existing Ravenhead Greenway pedestrian routes to the stadium site at Peasley Cross, where a Tesco Extra supermarket has also been constructed.

A landmark feature of the bridge will be a looped steel arch stretching from bank to bank and its design will have 16 steel hangers along either side.

The plan is for supporters who drive on match days to use existing town centre car parks and the bridge is viewed by St Helens Council as a key link in moving those fans straight to the stadium.

Road closures and diversions are in place along the route.