HUNDREDS of lorries will be allowed to cross the Forth Road Bridge from tonight as part of a phased re-opening of the link to heavy goods vehicles.

Depending on the weather conditions, around 600 HGVS a night will be able to use the northbound carriageway of the bridge after structural monitoring indicated that the truss end links could support "a limited number" of lorries.

Crossings will be permitted between 11pm and 4am with controlled traffic signals allowing one HGV onto the bridge every 30 seconds.

The Forth Road Bridge was closed to all traffic from December 4 after engineers discovered a crack in the steelwork. Following initial repairs, it was re-opened to vehicles - with the exception of HGVs - days before Christmas.

Hauliers were initially told that the crossing would be re-opened to lorries in mid-February but officials have since admitted that it will not be fully open to HGVs until mid-March.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: “This is a phased reintroduction of HGVs to the Forth Road Bridge which aims to provide access to the bridge at the earliest available opportunity. Allowing limited access to the bridge when traffic is lighter will hopefully provide some relief to local hauliers while repair work continues.

“90 per cent of traffic returned to the Forth Road Bridge in December and while we recognise that around 600 HGVs crossing the bridge each night does not get us to 100 per cent, it is a step in the right direction – with full reopening expected in mid-March.

We will of course continue to explore every option to see if we can increase access as the trial develops."