A timber firm in Royal Wootton Bassett has enhanced the town’s links with the monarchy by providing materials for a restoration project at one of the country’s top tourist attractions.

Vastern Timber has helped restoration work at the Tower of London by supplying oak for the reinstatement of the drawbridge.

The drawbridge dates back to 1834 and the firm has also provided furniture for the restoration of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.

Following years of planning and five months of construction, the drawbridge has been completely reinstated and officially unveiled.

Tom Barnes, a director at Vastern Timber, said: “English oak is an ideal timber for these historic restoration projects. It is robust enough to last centuries and is the most iconic of the English woods.

“The Tower of London is one of the country’s most prestigious and popular tourist attractions, so it is wonderful to think that we have provided the timber that will be enjoyed by countless millions of visitors for many, many years to come.

“These projects serve to underline the superior credentials of British timber. We are strong advocates of the Grown In Britain campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of choosing timber from well-managed domestic sources over imported timber.

“We consider these Tower of London projects to be a fantastic case study to illustrate that British timber can deliver at the very highest levels.”

Geoff Foers, from GMT Timber Frames, which installed the drawbridge, said: “Typically we would cut and prepare the wood at our premises and transport it to site for installation.

“However, for the Tower of London project we set up a temporary workshop on site in the dry moat.”