The £14m Peace Bridge in Derry~Londonderry has been officially opened.

An opening ribbon ceremony was held after speeches and lunch for invited guests at the city's Guildhall.

Six hundred school children from all faiths sang a specially commissioned song as the bridge was officially declared open on Saturday afternoon.

Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said it would be a catalyst for change in the city.

In a speech to mark the event, NI First Minister Peter Robinson thanked Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and EU commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, for their commitment to the project.

The bridge was funded by the EU's Peace III programme under the Shared Space initiative which supports projects that bring together communities that have been formerly divided.


Officially opening the bridge Mr Hahn said: "One of the key objectives of the European Union is to bring people together to live in peace, with a common respect both for shared values and for diversity.

"I believe that the peace bridge will help further this goal for the people of Derry - Londonderry. It will encourage greater levels of cross-community integration and usher in a new period of peace and reconciliation for the city."

The 312m bridge and will carry pedestrians and cyclists to and from the Cityside and Waterside.

It is hoped the bridge will be the focus for not only major regeneration of the area, but the symbolic union of what was once a divided city.

The chairman of Derry's regeneration company, Ilex, said the peace bridge would become the city's iconic image.

Sir Roy McNulty said it would become a "recognisable landmark".

"It is not as big as the bridge across Sydney Harbour, but for Derry I think it will provide a memorable image and I think people will see it on postcards and images of the city," he said.

"It will stand for Derry."

(GK/DW)