Volunteers behind the restoration of Ramsey Pier are keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast - as they are hoping to be able to fit new steelwork in the next few weeks.

Members of the Queen’s Pier Restoration Trust were busy at the weekend applying coats of black epoxy resin marine paint to the new lattice-section trusses and cross bars.

Trust spokesman Maggie Hughes said excitement is growing over the big move.

She said: ’The paint is an epoxy resin paint which requires five coats, and can only be applied above 8 degrees.

’Three are in a grey colour and two in black. The final coat will be black and will be applied when the steel is in situ on the pier.

’We are almost finished the painting, then we will keep an eye on the weather forecast.

’As soon as the weather improves hopefully in the next few weeks we will carry out the big steel switch over. It’s all very exciting. The "great steel swap" will of course depend on the weather and when the heavy crane hire is available.’

Maggie said the Trust is just £15,000 short of the funds needed to order the replacement steel for bays two and three. ’Fingers crossed we could have bays one, two and three completed by the end of this year,’ she said.

Five replacement lattice trusses that will support the decking of the Victorian landmark’s first bay were fabricated at the Gallas Foundry in Douglas and then sent to the UK to be galvanised.

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

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