A campaign to build a permanent bridge to the Dinosaurs of Crystal Palace Park has reached its funding goal.

Friends of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, who maintain the sculptures, announced $70,000 has been raised to fund the project, which will make the island-based landmarks more accessible.

The campaign notably received backing from rock and roll legend Slash who revealed his admiration for the unique sculptures, helping raise funds by donating one of his iconic top hands for auction.

A spokesperson for the campaign said: "Thanks to the Mayor of London, over 600 generous pledges on our crowdfunding project and some enthusiastic bidding on our online auction, we have raised the £70,000 we needed to build a bridge to the dinosaurs!

"We are incredibly excited and so grateful to all the individuals and organisations who pledged, bid, donated auction items, helped publicise the cause, provided logistical support and generally supported us along the way.

"We are already well under way discussing designs with our fantastic architects Tonkin Liu and engineers Arup who have given us their time and expertise, as well as donations in the form of pledges and auction lots."

Currently the features are only accessible by a temporary bridge a few times a year. Campaigners say a permanent one will allow them to run regular tours, increasing awareness of a cultural asset.

Built in 1884, the models were designed by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins under the scientific direction of Sir Richard Owen, representing the latest scientific knowledge of the period.

Slash, of world famous band Guns and Roses, revealed the collection of life-size sculptures have a "special place" in his heart back in December.

The campaign reached out to him after remembering an interview with Dermot O'Leary in 2014, when he mentioned visiting the dinosaurs as a child.

Slash spent the first five years of his life in London and Stoke, before moving to LA to achieve rock-god status.