The City of London Corporation has closed the landmark Tower Bridge until 30 December to carry out essential maintenance works.

During this period, the bridge will be closed to road traffic though it will be open for pedestrians on all but three weekends.

The bridge is 122-years-old and needs to undergo essential maintenance works to ensure it continues to serve as a vital London river crossing.

"The maintenance works include the replacement of timber decking and expansion joints along the bridge to provide a smooth running surface."

Maintenance works are carried out between every 40 to 50 years.

The maintenance works on the bridge will be carried out by BAM Nuttall, a civil engineering contractor working on behalf of the City of London Corporation.

The maintenance works include the replacement of timber decking and expansion joints along the bridge to provide a smooth running surface.

Resurfacing of the road and walkways, as well as waterproofing the brick arches that form the approach to the bridge, and major maintenance to the bridge lifting mechanisms will also be undertaken.

??Each day, Tower Bridge carries around 40,000 people, including 21,000 vehicles and it has an 18T MGW weight limit.

The bridge was previously closed in 1970 for maintenance works, where the timber decking of the bridge was replaced.