A LANDMARK service to mark the 200th anniversary of Chepstow Bridge will be held in the town on Sunday.

The bi-centenary ceremony culminates Chepstow’s annual month–long festival and will be organised by Chepstow Town Council in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council and the Chepstow Festival Committee.

It will be a re-enactment of the original opening, attended by Monmouthshire’s Chairman, Councillor Jim Higginson, his opposite number from Gloucestershire, Colin Hay, and the Mayor of Chepstow, Paul Pavia.

Sir John Armitt CBE, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers will also be visiting along with the Mayor of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, where the building contract was won in 1814.

The service will set off from Beaufort Square at 1pm before county chairmen will deliver speeches from the centre of the bridge 200 years to the minute that it was officially opened by magistrates in 1816.

Later in the day, a plaque will be unveiled followed by musical performances and a firework display.

Mr Pavia, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the bi-centenary has fallen within my mayoral year and there's no doubt that the commemoration of the opening of the bridge will be one of the principal civic events that I'll have the privilege to take part in.

"A huge amount of work has been invested in the event by the town council and local volunteers, especially John Burrows of the bridge’s bi-centenary organising group, and I hope all our guests and local residents will enjoy and remember this historic day for years to come."

The Grade I-listed cast-iron bridge over the River Wye was the world's largest iron arch road bridge when it opened after being built by John Urpeth Rastrick.

It served as a crucial link between Wales and the West Country before the opening of the Severn Bridge 150 years later.

Currently, Chepstow Bridge is the largest of its kind surviving from its time, leading local researcher Mr Burrows to believe it should be regarded as one of the world's greatest bridges.

It is is jointly maintained by Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire County Councils, with essential repair works carried out last year to ensure its continued use for years to come.