THE Northern Viaduct Trust will mark its 20th anniversary with the opening of a new car park.

It is hoped that the site, which will have space for around 10 cars, will solve the lack of parking for walkers accessing the Northern Viaduct Round Walk at Stenkrith Bridge on the Nateby Road, just south of Kirkby Stephen.

The project also includes a graded, landscaped path from the car park to the main walk as well as planted wild flowers and shrubs and a traditional railway-styled fence and stone wall.

The trust, which was originally set up in 1989 to repair Smardale Gill Viaduct, will celebrate its achievements with a ceremony at the new car park from 12pm on July 11, and afterwards at the Black Bull Inn, Nateby.