The road and rail link, which spans the 11-mile stretch of water, Storebaelt, is Europe's biggest suspension bridge, and the second largest in the world after the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan.

It is the central part of a £4bn project designed to link Scandinavia to the rest of Europe, and which will leave Ireland as the only EU country with no land connection to the continent.

The bridge took 10 years to build - four years longer than planned - and cost more than £3bn, double what was estimated.

It will replace the ferries that were the only surface link between the capital, Copenhagen - which lies on Sjaelland island - and the rest of the country.

The toll on the four-lane highway bridge is 210 kroner (£18), while a ferry crossing cost 335 kroner (£29).