It’s been a red letter week for volunteers behind the restoration of Queen’s Pier, Ramsey.

Long-awaited replacement steelwork for the first bay has been delivered.

A lot of work by the volunteers is still required to prepare the new steel for fitting.

This will include power washing, de-greasing and a light sanding to provide a key suitable to accept the two-part epoxy paint.

Once prepared, there are four undercoats of paint to be applied prior to the new steel being swapped with the old iron.

The top coat of paint will be applied once the steel is in place. To comply with planning regulations, the final colour of the steel will be black.

A spokesman for the Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust said: ’There is indeed a great deal of work still to be completed before we can actually install the new steel on bay 1!’

The chances of installing the replacement steel this year have been described by project manager Stuart McKenzie as ’slim but still possible’. The five replacement lattice trusses that will support the decking of the Victorian landmark’s first bay have been fabricated at the Gallas Foundry in Douglas.

They will replace the corroded wrought iron girders that are to be removed by trust’s band of volunteers.

The 12m long lattice-section trusses will run longitudinally along the pier at its landward end, having been bolted together on site.

Some 15 cross bars are also being manufactured.

Last month, the trust received planning consent for structural works to the underside of the pier, and various restoration works to the entrance gatehouse which has now been repainted in a light shade of green.

It is to also get a new entrance clock and flagpoles.