THE first bridge across the River Mersey was built for King Henry VII, a local historian has discovered.

Alan Foster, from Widnes, said he was surprised to find out that the footbridge had no toll and was constructed during the Tudor king's reign in 1487.

The footbridge was funded by Lord Thomas Stanley, the Earl of Richmond after he married King Henry's mother Lady Margaret Beaufort in 1472.

Alan, 83, of Holyrood Avenue, said: "I've always been passionate about history. I was doing some research and came across a passage in The Story of Lancashire book.

"During King Henry's visits to see his mother at Knowsley Hall and Lathom House, the noble earl had a footbridge built at Warrington.

"It was the narrowest part of the river.

"The generous earl made the footbridge free by leaving in his will 300 marks so that it should be free for all people for evermore.

"Ever since that ancient footbridge was built the river crossing location has been known as Bridgefoot."

The bridge, he said, is seen as a gift by Lord Stanley to repay his stepson for giving him a prestigious title.

Alan added: "At the battle of Bosworth Field, Lord Stanley, as the head of 400 men of Lancashire, fought for King Henry, a victory which brought about the end of the Wars of the Roses.

"His loyalty was rewarded on October 30, 1485 when he was created as the first Earl of Derby.

"In return he built a bridge for his step son so it would be easier for the king to visit his mother."

Successive bridges have been built at Bridgefoot since then.

Alan, who took early retirement from his job as an instrument technician at Evans Medical, has devoted his time to research.

He has spent hours painstakingly delving into the past to discover unknown facts, old photographs, portraits and sketches of the ancient village of Farnworth in Widnes.

His book Education and its Patrons Through The Ages in Farnworth and Widnes raised more than £2,500 for the restoration fund at St Luke's Church.