Work could soon begin on repairing Southport Pier after it was shut over safety concerns.
Sefton Council was forced to take the decision to shut the famous Merseyside attraction after extreme weather caused "significant and unavoidable" damage to the decking boards of the pier. A number of inspections were carried out over a two-day period in December which led to the decision to close the tourist attraction.
Last year it was confirmed £3m had been earmarked to replace more than 53 miles of decking along the 160-year-old pier. Temporary metal fences have since been placed in front of entrances to stop people from walking along the unsafe pier.