麻豆社

Long before 'The Angel of the North' strutted ostentatiously over the A1, the North East already had a towering image that embodied the history, pride and ambition of the region: The Transporter Bridge on Teesside. Its reputation is such that when TV show Auf Wiedersehen Pet ran a story-line that the bridge was being sold to America, there was an outcry.

Now, as the bridge marks its centenary, its role is increasingly uncertain. Passenger numbers have plummeted while maintenance costs have increased. The bridge is now council owned, so how can it survive the public sector savings? Presenter Nigel Thompson finds out what this bridge means today, to those who love it and those who maintain it.