Woman charged over bridge protest

A woman who chained herself to a derelict Victorian bridge in Leicester in a bid to stop its demolition has been charged with aggravated trespass.

All work was stopped when a 39-year-old woman climbed up Bowstring Bridge in the city's West End at about 0600 GMT on Monday.

She ended her protest voluntarily after almost 12 hours and was brought down to safety by police officers.

The woman was due to appear before Leicester magistrates on Tuesday.

Campaigners have fought to save the bridge which dates from the 1890s.

Its demolition follows a decision by Leicester City Council that repair and and restoration work would be too expensive.