'Careless' driver costs charity £100,000

The original bricks were recovered so the bridge could be rebuilt

A charity has had to spend £100,000 repairing a centuries-old canal bridge after it was struck by a "careless" driver.

The bridge, near Barrow upon Trent in Derbyshire, has been closed to traffic since it was damaged in April.

The Canal and River Trust (CRT), the charity responsible for maintaining England's waterways, said having to spend the money was "frustrating".

It spends more than £1m a year repairing bridges damaged by vehicles.

The bridge was closed to traffic while it was repaired

The charity has asked drivers to slow down when crossing this and other hump-back bridges across the canal network.

Regional director Linny Beaumont said: “Canal bridges, which date back hundreds of years, are such an important part of our local heritage and character, so it’s heartbreaking to see them damaged in such a careless way.

“At a time when the costs associated with caring for the nation’s historic waterways are increasing, and we’re appealing for more people to support our vital work, it’s hugely frustrating that we’re having to divert time and money into repairs such as this."

The bridge in Sinfin Line has reopened to traffic after being repaired

The charity spent four weeks recovering bricks and rebuilding the bridge in Sinfin Lane.

The bridge was originally built hundreds of years ago to allow horses and carts to cross over the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Over the past 20 years it has been hit by modern traffic 16 times.

Police believe the latest vehicle to hit the bridge was an HGV, but the driver has not been traced, so the CRT could not recoup the cost from the driver's insurers.

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