COUPLES in Worcester have been giving each other the lock of love at a scenic spot on the river Severn.

Padlocks engraved with touching messages and declarations of eternal love have begun to appear on the railings of Sabrina Bridge, near Pitchcroft. Sweethearts have been inspired by the Pont des Arts, known as Lover’s Bridge, over the river Seine in Paris and left the symbols of eternal love on the Worcester crossing.

While the amount of padlocks on the bridge in Paris has left it with structural problems, there are currently just six locks on the footbridge over the Severn.

And the padlocks will remain for the moment with Jon Fraser, highways manager at Worcestershire County Council, saying they would only look at removing them if they became a concern, or dangerous.

“The county council adopts a sympathetic approach in these circumstances and will review the situation if concerns are raised,” he said.

The craze is extremely popular in European cities including Paris, Cologne and Barcelona, where loved-up couples lock their messages on to bridges then throw the keys into the river below.

Messages left on Sabrina Bridge include Craig, Vicky, Caesar’s Palace 21/6/07, adorned with a heart, as well as another engraved with Rich, Tammy, Tiggy, Alfie, Martha, The Morse Family Established 1999....x.

Another couple marked their 15th anniversary with a lock, while a birthday message has also been left for ‘Jodie’. Two of the padlocks had been ordered from love locks specialist Locks-of-love.com, based in Bournemouth. Adam Wilson, operations manager at the firm, said he set up about 18 months ago after organising an elaborate proposal involving love locks in Paris but had difficulty finding a UK supplier. “Things have started to get really busy and we have certainly had more orders especially during July and August,” he said.

“After a slow start in the UK they have really taken off. Generally, people have no idea what they are, except for those who have been to Paris and have seen them there. But they are very popular in Europe, especially Germany and all over the continent really, but not so much in America, which is unusual.

“I think they are the next step up from carving initials into a tree, or on a school desk, as a declaration of undying love.”

Mr Wilson said the love locks could become a tourist destination similar to designated sites at the Albert Docks in Liverpool and the Forth Road Bridge, in Edinburgh.

“I think if councils are willing to embrace the padlocks and they are not affecting the infrastructure of the bridge then it is a really nice idea and aesthetically can be quite pleasing,” Mr Wilson said. “We have heard some really unique and really wonderful ideas for the love locks from people who have ordered from us.

“They are a very romantic gesture.”-