A TEAM of workers battling to rebuild a flood-damaged bridge pledged yesterday to complete the project as quickly as possible.

Engineers working on the 150-year-old Mercury Bridge, at Richmond, North Yorkshire, said they were on course to have it open to traffic before the end of the year.

The listed structure was closed in early June after being devastated by severe floods of the River Swale.

Repairs continued yesterday, installing steel girders to support the bridge. Major reconstruction should be under way by September.

Engineers will look at the possibility of reopening the bridge with a traffic-light system for pedestrians and light vehicles.

North Yorkshire County Council's environmental services director, Mike Moore, said: "We all realise how important it is to have this river crossing working again as quickly as possible. We are all fully committed to this project."

David Bull, divisional director for contractor Morrison, said: "The severity of the damage, the age of the bridge and flow of water has created an unusual structural problem.