EMERGENCY repairs are being carried out by engineers to stabilise a County Durham bridge after it was discovered that the riverbed beneath it had partially washed away.

Earlier this year divers inspected Harelaw Bridge, near Wolsingham, and found a 3m deep hole beginning to undermine the structure, while some of its supports rested only on loose sands and gravels.

Durham County Council’s strategic highways manager Brian Buckley said: “Any further erosion of the riverbed would likely have undermined the bridge footings so, following discussions with the Environment Agency and The Wear Rivers Trust, we are working with specialist underwater contractors to stabilise the area before winter, while a long term solution is found.”

The two months of emergency works, which are costing £240,000, will see 1,200 tonnes of rock armour put into the hole and concrete laid under any undermined parts of the bridge.

A specially designed fish pass will also be installed to remove a major obstacle to migration.

The Environment Agency considers the fish pass as a positive element as it is allowing work to be undertaken in the river at a time when it may lead to some short term disruption for wildlife.

During the work the bridge will remain open to all traffic.