An inquiry is to be held into the closure of the Forth Road Bridge, it has been announced.

Holyrood's infrastructure and capital investment committee have agreed to host a 'focused' inquiry on the structural defect behind the closure.

The bridge was closed to all traffic on 04 December after a crack was discovered in a truss under the carriageway.

It is understood works are now underway to repair and open the bridge to traffic again by 04 January.

Responding to the announcement, Transport Minister Derek Mackey said: "I welcome the ICI committee's decision to hold an inquiry, once the bridge has reopened, and I look forward to participating in that process. From day one I have been open and accountable.

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"I have also been fully accessible, updating Parliament, speaking to the media on a daily basis, chairing a technical briefing for MSPs, and keeping stakeholders and political representatives up to date, I have taken every opportunity to be transparent on this issue of national importance – that will continue to be the case.

"I am confident that when the engineers – including those with 30 years' experience of working on the FRB and the independent experts - get the chance to provide evidence to the committee, including the unpredictable nature of the fault, then people will see that the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have taken difficult but decisive action and have behaved in a responsible manner."

(LM)