Grand steel gates with links to monarchy have officially been unveiled at a town's common.

Beccles mayor Christine Wheeler cut the ribbon to formally recognise that the repair and refurbishment of the gates at Beccles Common at the end of The Avenue has now been finished.

The gate had been damaged by a vehicle and had been vandalised and been called "unsafe".

The work was made possible by the Beccles Townlands Charity Feoffees, which donated £10,000 towards the cost of the project.

Contractor Paul Stoddart from Kingdom Forge completed the work.

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Stoddart of Kingdom Forge at Brundish, who refurbished the gates with and made new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common.Paul Stoddart of Kingdom Forge at Brundish, who refurbished the gates with and made new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common. (Image: Denise Bradley)

He said: "It was a lengthy process to totally restore the old iron gates, which to be honest, were rather ruined and in a terrible state.

"It was always going to be a big job to replace the gates, which are between six and seven tonnes of iron, but we are all very happy now the job has been completed.

"We have also had a lot of positive feedback from the public too which is always nice."

East Anglian Daily Times: The refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common.The refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common. (Image: Denise Bradley)East Anglian Daily Times: The refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common.The refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The original gates date back to the 1800s, though were replaced in 1977 in honour of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

But in August 2022 the gates were damaged by a contractor's vehicle which hit them.

Since then they became unsafe and were even vandalised, triggering the town council to act.

East Anglian Daily Times: The mayor of Beccles, Christine Wheeler, cuts the ribbon to officially open the refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common.The mayor of Beccles, Christine Wheeler, cuts the ribbon to officially open the refurbished gates with new pillars, at the Avenue at Beccles Common. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Beccles mayor, Christine Wheeler, said: " “On behalf of the town council, I am delighted that the gates are back in place and that they look so beautiful. They provide a suitably grand entrance to the Common.”

The gates are situated at the end of The Avenue, a walk from the train station to the Common.