PADLOCKS that have been clipped on Sea Cliff Bridge by couples declaring their love for each other have been removed and will be available for collection at the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) depot at Russell Vale all next month.

Earlier this month residents and visitors started taking their padlocks off Sea Cliff Bridge ahead of the planned RMS removal.

RMS Southern Regional manager, Bradley Turner said padlocks were removed after September 10 and can be collected from the works centre at 21 York Place Russell Vale until October 31.

“While we understand the emotional attachment people have to these padlocks, Sea Cliff Bridge is not an appropriate place to leave them,” he said.

“The metal corrodes and rusts, causing damage to the bridge,” he said.

RMS said it will continue to remove any padlocks placed on the iconic bridge into the future.