The Orwell Bridge has been reopened after it was closed for almost four hours due to high winds.

Ipswich Star: Traffic has been building in Ipswich town centre as a result of the Orwell Bridge's closure Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNTraffic has been building in Ipswich town centre as a result of the Orwell Bridge's closure Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: SARAH LUCY BROWN)

Highways England closed the bridge shortly after 12pm, after wind speeds were recorded above the bridge’s safety limit.

Its closure caused heavy traffic in much of central Ipswich, with London Road, West End Road and Wherstead Road seeing near gridlock traffic.

In a tweet, a Highways England spokesman said: “The wind speeds have dropped to a level where we are able to begin the process of reopening the bridge.

“This should be completed and the bridge reopened by approximately 16:00.”