Powick Old Bridge repair work begins

Work has begun to repair a historic bridge which partially collapsed after being damaged by flooding.

Powick Old Bridge in Worcestershire was closed in January after part of its structure fell into the River Teme.

The temporary work will see a platform created on the upstream side of the river, so further work can take place, a county council spokesman said. Specialist equipment, including a spider excavator, has been brought in to remove parts of the bridge from the river bed which could be used in the permanent repair.

Detailed designs of a permanent reconstruction will then be drawn up ahead of further work which is expected to start in 2025.

"Treating this bridge with the respect that it deserves for such a historic structure is a key part of this project," said Jon Fraser, the council's director of highways.

"What we want to do is create a dry working area where we can get a proper inspection of what's needed and support this structure through the winter floods."

The bridge is said to have featured heavily in the Battle of Worcester in 1651

Marc Bayliss, the council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said while the cost of the repair work had not yet been calculated, it was "not going to be cheap".

"We are repairing damage from landslips and flooding all over the county every year so this is just another one I'm afraid," he said.

"This is a really important bridge that has historic significance so we've got to do the job properly and get it right."

Old Powick Bridge was built before 1447, according to the county's archives service.

The first and last battles of the Civil War - the Battle of Powick Bridge in 1642 and Battle of Worcester in 1651 - took place around the area, they added.