HEAVY engineering work to remove a Victorian railway bridge in north Durham is set to start next week.

The removal of the bridge span at Leadgate is the biggest part of a £2.4m scheme to improve the road network in the Consett area.

Work started a year ago, but there have been delays and businesses in the village have said the closure of the bridge has severely affected trade.

Postmaster Griff Elliott, who has run the Post Office in Leadgate for 16 years and lives upstairs, said business has dropped by more than 50 per cent and he could be forced to close.

Mr Elliott said: “Normally, we are serving customers all day, but since the bridge has closed it has been dead. Leadgate is like a ghost town.

“It is getting more and more desperate. I am losing money every month and if it does not reopen soon I am going to go out of business.”

Christine Boyle, owner and manager of Davison’s ladies’ dress shop, which was started by her mother, Murial Davison, 60 years ago, has also lost half her custom.

Mr Boyle said: “We rely on the passing traffic for the through trade. People are not shopping in Leadgate anymore. We are all losing out.”

The bridge was built in 1896 and was the main road between Leadgate and Consett over a disused railway line, which once led up to the steelworks.

It is being replaced with a straight carriageway to allow two-way traffic between Front Street, in Leadgate, and Villa Real.

The council has previously said work is expected to continue until autumn, but there are fears the road might not be open until February next year.

Councillor Alan Shield said: “The effect on the businesses has been devastating because of the loss of passing trade and the restricted bus service.

“People no longer shop in Leadgate so the businesses are suffering.”

Adrian White, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, said the discovery of larger quantities of industrial spoil than initially anticipated beneath the planned works caused significant delays to the project.

He said: “Once completed, this £2.4m scheme should not only make journeys much easier and reduce congestion in the area but, by improving access, provide a welcome boost for local businesses.

“Our aim is still to complete these much needed improvements as soon as possible and once again we would like to thank local residents for their patience while we put them in place.”