Ansford rail bridge repair work to begin in July

Repair work to a Somerset bridge, which will mean an 18-mile diversion for some traffic, is to begin in July.

Network Rail said a full road closure lasting 19 weeks was needed to carry out repairs on the A371 Ansford Bridge near Castle Cary railway station.

Work was due to begin in September but was postponed after complaints about a lack of consultation.

Godfrey Hall, who lives nearby, said the work was "still going to cause a large number of problems".

He said Network Rail should consider replacing the bridge rather than repairing the current structure.

But the firm said this would take significant extra funding which was not available.

The company is to write to about 500 households in the Castle Cary area within 5km (3.1 miles) of the bridge. It is holding a drop-in meeting at Caryford Hall, Ansford, on 11 May.