A retired construction worker has designed and constructed a bridge across the Godineau River to replace the one that collapsed last June, but was never rebuilt.

Sookeran Premchand, who is also a farmer, single-handedly pounded drilling pipes into the river and constructed a sturdy walkover across the river at Avocat Village, Fyzabad, using materials he had bought for a shed at his home.

Premchand, 64, said when the authorities failed to respond to the pleas of residents for a new bridge, he came up with a plan that would help his neighbours to get across the river and to link them to the rest of the community.