Calls to widen bridge after multiple crashes

Drivers have ended up in the brook where the bridge sits on a sharp bend

Residents have called on Derbyshire County Council to widen a narrow bridge after multiple crashes there have left some drivers in the water below.

People living in and around Church Broughton in Derbyshire said the bridge, which goes over a brook in Longford Lane, was often damaged as it sits on a sharp bend.

Howard Spendlove is among those calling for improvements and said he had counted four crashes in the past two years, with the latest happening two weeks ago.

A council spokesperson said the authority was looking into the issue.

A petition calling for improvements to be made has been signed by more than 140 people.

Mr Spendlove told the BBC: "The young man, who was the last person to go in [to the brook] ended up on his roof, managed to get out OK.

"But another time it happened, a young lady had crashed and the brook was high, high as the road and she struggled to get out.

"It could be a real death-like situation."

The 74-year-old has called for a "series of warning signs" alerting drivers to the sharp bend.

He also said traffic lights to slow down vehicles could be an option, but added the bridge needed to be "widened and strengthened".

An email sent to Mr Spendlove from a senior highways boss from the council, said improvements had been delayed due to budget pressures.

However, expected increased funding this year should result in upgrades - which could involve widening the highway and installing a barrier.

The email added the bridge would need to be rebuilt in its current layout until extra funding became available.

A county council spokesperson said: "We are aware that there have been several accidents here recently, where motorists appear to have taken the corner too fast.

"We are looking at what we could do to improve safety here."