NEW FORTH BRIDGE SHREDDED MY TYRE

Model, 44, says closure for repairs proves puncture caused by fault in £1.3bn crossing

bill after the tyre on her Peugeot convertible blew out last week.

The 44-year-old model said: “My tyre completely exploded which led me to drive over the bridge petrified, with only three wheels.

“I had my suspicions of what caused it as I was right at the joining of the bridge when it happened – but the news that the bridge is closing for repair confirmed it for me.”

The repair man who fixed the tyre claims he has been called out to several other blowouts at the bridge.

Brian Meston, who runs Altyre Services in Glenrothes, said the job was his fifth at the bridge since it opened in September.

He said: “I can’t say what caused the blowout 100 per cent but the tyre itself was quite good tread-wise and didn’t have any nails or defects in it that I could see. I would normally deal with around five blowouts a year on the Forth Road Bridge, not that many in a couple of months.”

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf insisted the closure this week was due to “normal” snagging issues.

A Transport Scotland spokesman added: “We are unaware of any issue with the joints which would cause such implied damage at 50mph on the southbound joints.

“It is important to stress that there is no safety risk to those using the Queensferry Crossing, especially if they stick to the 50mph speed limit.”

Amey, who operate the new bridge, added that there had been no increase in reports of punctured tyres on the Queensferry Crossing compared with the Forth Road Bridge.