A FUTURISTIC swan' bridge canopy over the Forth and Clyde Canal at Clydebank has been lowered into place.

The new structure is part of a £2million regeneration project aimed at raising the profile of the canal in the town.

The canopy, which resembles a swan in flight, was designed by Neil McLean, of Edinburgh-based RMJM Architects, who won the Clydebank Re-built national competition for professionals to design the structure.

Work started in February and the new pedestrian bridge at Clydebank Shopping Centre and canopy have been created by Yoker firm Gray & Dick.

Eleanor McAllister, managing director of regeneration company Clydebank Re-built, said she hoped the swan design would become an iconic structure.

The new bridge has replaced the existing 25-year-old metal-latticed frame, which local people criticised as being unsightly.

Andrew Wright, past president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, who chaired the judging panel, described the swan canopy as an "inspired and iconic structure".

He said: "It is strikingly elegant and sophisticated.

"The design has beauty with lasting value and it will look good from all approaches, not least crossing the canal itself."

The competition attracted 66 entries from across the UK and abroad.

The canal, which was re-opened in 2001, has the world's only drop lock, at Dalmuir, and the world's first sail through' chip shop.

The swan canopy is just the latest landmark for Clydebank.

The most familiar is the Titan Crane which is now a tourist attraction and from the top of which visitors can see the changing face of the town.