AN investigation has been launched after Whitby Swing Bridge was damaged on Wednesday afternoon.

The gate that closes the bridge to traffic on the town’s west side was crushed at about 5.30pm as the bridge was swinging open for harbour traffic. One of the fencing panels next to the gate on the fixed end of the bridge was also damaged and ended up in the river.

The bridge is now open only to road and pedestrian traffic but closed to harbour traffic.

North Yorkshire County Council will close the bridge to road traffic on Friday at 7am to install a temporary gate and to retrieve the damaged panel.

Pedestrians will still be able to cross the bridge and it is hoped the bridge will reopen at 7am on Saturday.

A county council spokesman said: “We do not really know how this could have happened but we are investigating.”

The bridge, built in 1909, jammed in the open position in 2010 cutting the town in two for a week until it was repaired. It was also given a major uprgade in 2013.