The new Forth Bridge will create increasing opportunities for Scottish firms for the next three years, the Transport Minister has said.

Keith Brown said businesses would benefit from the construction of the crossing "all the way into 2016 when the bridge is completed and open".

New figures show more sub-contracts are going to Scottish companies. The latest figures revealed that at the end of December a total of 334 Scottish firms had been awarded sub-contracts or supply orders totalling £130 million by the project's main contractor.

Picture: Gordon Terris