Ryde Pier's new pedestrian walkway has officially opened to the public - just in time for Isle of Wight Festival 2023.

There had been questions over whether it would be ready for the arrival of festival-goers.

Wightlink, which owns the pier, told the County Press last week it would 'work around the clock' to get it open for the start of the event.

Festival-goers were able to use the walkway as they headed to the bus station this morning (Thursday).

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Works to build it were completed earlier this month.

At the time, Wightlink’s Head of Port Operations Dean Murphy said previously: “Strollers now have their own path, away from cars and bicycles, making Ryde Pier more pleasurable for people who want to walk by the sea or travel on foot to and from Wightlink’s FastCats.

“New shelters and seats will offer everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful views across the Solent.”

Read more: Festival-goers arrive on the Isle of Wight

The new walkway, which links Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade, replaces the old tramway.

Isle of Wight County Press: The new Ryde Pier walkway from the air.

It has been built on the Victorian cast-iron piles of the old tramway, next to the railway pier.

Horse-drawn trams first carried holiday makers along the pier when the tramway opened in 1864, then steam, electric and petrol-driven trams were used.

Trams were withdrawn in 1969.

Staff at Knights Brown removed more than 350 tonnes of old steelwork, replacing them with new steel, and installed almost 3,000 decking boards and 1.5 km of decorative handrails.