Work on building the Millennium Bridge has been halted in York - after an Italian job proved a bridge too far.

The hitch could delay completion of the crossing over the River Ouse near Rowntree Park by a few weeks until the end of summer.

That will be after the Queen's Millennium visit to York in July and after thousands of cyclists had hoped to cross the bridge during a major rally in York.

Contractors Spencer say they failed to agree contractual terms with an Italian firm Cimolai which had been due to fabricate the steel bridge structure.

Now the job has gone to a British firm, Meldan Fabrications Ltd of Barton-on-Humber, just a few miles from Spencer.

Meldan has begun the fabrication task but it will be some time before the steel sections begin arriving on the riverside for assembly.

In the meantime, Spencer's workmen have been cracking on with their other task of refurbishing the riverside walks.

Spencer spokeswoman Ann Bolton said the completion should not be delayed by more than a few weeks - possibly to the end of summer.

She said Spencer and Cimolai were on track to meet the target set by the Millennium Bridge Trust to have the bridge open in the Millennium year.

The Trust's manager, Paul Chesmore, said the delay was an annoyance. "It's a very frustrating thing to happen, but this sort of thing happens in the building industry all the time."

The Queen is due to pay a visit to York on July 27, and, while her official engagements have not yet been announced, some in the city have speculated that her duties might include the official opening of the Millennium Bridge.

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