A PLAQUE honouring four men who died in tragedies while working on the Severn Bridge is to installed on the crossing.

The idea for the memorial came from Peter Neale who worked with three of the four men whose names will appear on the plaque.

He hopes that as well as honouring the memories of John Short of Caldicot, Robin Phelps of Brockweir, Eric Sullivan of Tintern and Kevin Hoskins of Patchway, it will also serve as a reminder of the danger of construction work.

The four men died between 1989 and 1991 during a major programme of works to the bridge which started operating in September 1966.

Mr Short, who was 42, died when he fell during work to replace a lift in one of the towers on January 18 1989.

Mr Phelps, 43, and 46-year-old Mr Sullivan were in a maintenance gantry on the underside of the bridge deck when it fell into the river on September 4 1990.

Another man on the gantry at the time miraculously survived the 165 feet (50 metre) fall.

Mr Hoskins, who was 34, died in an incident in one of the towers on the Aust side on November 27 1991.

The men were killed between 1986 and 1991 in industrial accidents whilst carrying out strengthening works on the Severn Bridge on behalf of the Highways Agency and Avon County Council.

Former construction manager Mr Neale said: “I knew and worked with three of the men (John, Eric and Robin).

“I always thought that there should be a memorial, not only to honour the men, but also to highlight the fact that construction is a dangerous business, and that safety must be the key consideration of all concerned.

“Having recently retired, I was finally able to get the plaque organised with support from Highways England and the John Laing Charitable Trust.”

As soon as Coronavirus restrictions permit, a dedication service will take place on the Severn Bridge with all the families.