ANGRY villagers have criticised vandals who attacked a bridge days after a £100,000 refurbishment was completed.

Whorlton Suspension Bridge, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, was reopened at the beginning of the month after an eight-week renovation programme.

But within days, vandals had knocked a large coping stone into the woods 20ft below the bridge, which is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country.

The stone, which measures, 2ft square and 6in high, is to be replaced tomorrow at a cost of about £500.

A Durham County Council spokesman, said: "The stone will have a steel doweling rod inserted so it cannot be knocked off again. There have been similar thefts from bridges in the region."

John Stanwix, chairman of Whorlton Parish Council, said: "It is a bit of a tragedy when you consider the amount of money spent repairing the bridge. It makes you wonder if anything is safe anymore."