Fed-up Londoners have illuminated a bridge in bright red as part of a Valentine’s Day stunt drawing attention to its closure.

Hammersmith Bridge was shut off to traffic in April 2019 when cracks appeared in its pedestals – and closed to pedestrians and cyclists last August after a heatwave exacerbated the problem.

With no firm reopening date in sight, locals decided to create “the UK’s biggest Valentine’s Day card” to mark six months since its full closure.

The message read: “Broken hearts. Broken promises. Broken lives. Broken bridge.”

Organisers said the stunt was addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Helen Pennant-Rea, who chairs the Hammersmith Bridge SOS Residents’ Group, said it was intended to be a “fun and entertaining way to draw attention to what remains a serious issue” – and said a temporary pedestrian crossing is needed at the very least.

She added: “It is a great shame that we need to raise further attention to the complete inability of politicians from all parties to find a satisfactory solution.”

A government taskforce was launched last September with a view to “opening the bridge as speedily as possible”.

According to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the cost of making the bridge safe and avoiding a “potential catastrophic failure” stands at £46m.

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