Designing bridges is usually a job left to the architects – but securing an aesthetically pleasing new footbridge meant drawing on the talents of the community for this task.

And for one 48-year-old Twickenham homeowner, finding out his design had been chosen as the bridge pedestrians crossing the North Sheen rail tracks wanted to use, was an honour.

Stephen Speak, of Fitzwilliam Avenue, said: “I was surprised and, to be honest, quite honoured to think my design from all the others was chosen.

“All I had done was take in a photo of the area and superimposed my design on top.”

Mr Speak’s Kew Gardens’ treetop walkway-inspired design was chosen as the basis of the new railway station footbridge as part of a unique competition where residents could submit their own ideal bridge designs.

He said: “The nice thing about the treetop walkway is it disappears into the background and what I wanted to do was something that does this as much as it could.

“I was proposing steel supports and framework and then the sides would be steel mesh.

“I’m looking forward to working with the professionals to turn the vision into a reality that we can all be pleased about.”

Following disappointing proposals by Network Rail in the past about potential designs for the pedestrian bridge, a public competition was set up inviting residents to design something they would be pleased with.

The competition, run by Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, North Richmond councillors and Network Rail, saw designs flood in before being narrowed down to eight finalists which were judged workable by the company.

A public meeting last Thursday saw the public inspect the final designs before picking their favourite, which will now be worked into a reality paid for by Network Rail.

Mr Goldsmith said: “Many of the designs were inspiring, and all were an improvement on the original.

“Huge congratulations to those who took part, and credit must be given to Network Rail for making the competition possible.”

North Richmond councillor Katherine Harborne added: “It was frustrating there could only be one winner. The imagination and creativity of the entries was truly incredible.”