A resident has voiced frustration over repairs to a County Durham bridge that will cut off pedestrian access to a village for two weeks - forcing a 20-mile detour in the run-up to Christmas.
Wolsingham Causeway Bridge, the only crossing of the River Wear in the Weardale village, has been undergoing work by Durham County Council since early May.
Dating back to 1894, the bridge required significant repairs due to its age.
Residents say they were initially informed by Durham County Council that the bridge would be closed off to vehicles for some weeks during the work - but that it would remain open for pedestrians.
There is now set to be a full closure in December for two weeks - which has sparked concern from locals who say they now face a 20-mile diversion to get from one side to the other.
From Monday, December 8, a full road closure to vehicles and pedestrians is scheduled, with the bridge expected to reopen on December 19.
One 70-year-old resident who lives on a small estate on the north side of the river, said she is worried about the impact this closure will have on her.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "They said we would always have pedestrian access, but now we've found out it will be closed for two weeks to pedestrians.
"In the run-up to Christmas, there are a lot of things going on in the village, and there will be no easy access that way - it's a 20-mile detour.
"Now the dark nights are here, there's no way I'll venture through that back road just to get into the village."
Schoolchildren will also be affected by the pedestrian closure. Farmers and factory workers will also face disruption.
Mark Readman, Durham County Council’s head of highways, said the council has a "statutory duty to ensure Wolsingham Bridge is kept in a safe and serviceable condition" and pointed out that the authority has aimed to keep the bridge open for the majority of the project.
He said: “Due to the complexity of the final stages of the project, there will be times when a temporary full closure is needed to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce. A diversion will be required only on these occasions, which we have kept to a minimum."
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He added that work is "progressing well" on the bridge, and the aim is to have it completed in the new year.
The resident claimed she had reported the issues with the bridge ten years ago, but had no response from the council until last year.
She added: "They just haven't thought about how we will be affected. Surely, if they fixed when it needed doing, not ten years later, it wouldn't be this big of a job."
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