CAMPAIGNERS hope an 18th century bridge will become a beauty spot after a much-needed clean-up of the area, which has been blighted by fly-tippers.

The grade II-listed bridge over the River Wiske, near Great Smeaton, is close to a la-by on the A167 between Northallerton and Darlington.

Officials from North Yorkshire County Council's highways department will visit the area next week to remove rubbish, as well as some trees that have grown up around the bridge.

John Evans, a member of a the Tidy Up Great Smeaton (Tugs) committee, praised council officials for their help getting the area smartened up.

Among the rubbish dumped in the area has been carpet off-cuts, building waste and general domestic rubbish, said Mr Evans He said: "I have lived in Smeaton for 20 years, and rubbish being left on the bridge has always annoyed me.

"We hope that, once the work is carried out, the bridge will be more exposed to the main road, as will anybody inclined to dump their rubbish there.

"The Hambleton street cleaners, and the county council, have been great.

"Whenever I have rang them in the past, they have come and cleaned it out straight away.

"The saplings in the river by the bridge are starting to become trees, so it is important they are uprooted, because they are destroying the bridge and making it look unloved."

It is hoped the bridge and its adjacent lay-by will become a spot for local residents, and passing motorists to enjoy, when the work has been carried out.

The bridge features in the local history of the area as one of the bridges in "The Wraith of Little Smeaton", the story of the ghost of a young girl who committed suicide after her father imprisoned her in her room rather than let her marry an "unsuitable" man.

Contractors from the county council will carry out the removal of the saplings on Monday, June 2, when the bridge will be closed off to allow the work to be carried out.

Volunteers from Tugs will then take over the responsibility of maintaining its appearance, with a working party to complete the tidy-up.