A love symbol tradition that has been seen across the world found its way to the Fens when a padlock was spotted on a footbridge in West End park in March.
The locks are a symbol of love and commitment, thought to have been inspired by an ancient Chinese custom, where couples lock a padlock on a gate or bridge and then throw away the key, symbolically locking their love forever.
The tradition grew in popularity in Europe at the start of the new millennium and in cities from Moscow to Rome, London Millennium Bridge and at Gretna Green there are fences, bridges, and poles adorned with padlocks.
Now, the tradition has found its way to the footpath which leads from the park to Marylebone Road with a gold padlock engraved with two hearts and the names Inga and Raimonds and the date May 24, 2016.
According to website, Love Locks, the ritual of fixing love padlocks to the bridge Ponte Milvio in Rome can be attributed to the book I Want You by Italian author Frederico Moccia.
“These love padlocks are an expression of hope and humanity, connecting people around the world with the one thing that unites us all - love,” the website says.
In the UK locks can be seen at unofficial location in Aberdeen at the Falls of Feugh Bridge; Bakewell Weir Bridge; Birmingham Salvage Turn Bridge; Leeds Centenary Bridge; London Tower Bridge, Millenium Bridge, Shoreditch; Liverpool Albert Dock; Newcastle High Level Bridge; Torquay Harbour Bridge; Ireland, Harveys Point Hotel, Donegal.
Official love lock location in the UK are at Gretna Green and Forth Road Bridge in Quensferry in Scotland.
In June 2014 around 300 love locks were removed from York’s Millennium Bridge when City of York Council said it feared the suspension bridge could be unbalanced.
The authority’s action came a month after the Pont des Arts footbridge over the River Seine in Paris closed briefly when the weight of thousands of locks caused a section of the mesh fencing to buckle and fall on to the pavement.
A year later Paris city officials removed close to one million locks - weighing 45 tonnes.
Find out more at Love Locks
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