THE mysterious death of the man who built the world's oldest railway bridge has been turned into a musical.

Arch Enemies recounts the building of Causey Arch, near Stanley, County Durham.

Completed in 1726, it is the oldest railway bridge in the world.

Stonemason Ralph Wood was commissioned by coal owners to build the bridge to take horse-drawn railway carts across a steep-sided gorge.

But in a bizarre twist, Wood became Britain's first railway safety campaigner, when he raised fears that the structure could collapse.

Shortly after he went public with his findings, he mysteriously vanished. Local legend has it that his body was found 80ft below the bridge.

His story is told in new a musical production by County Durham theatre company Jack Drum Arts.

Jill Cole, from the company, said: "This was the first time anyone had tried to build a stone arch like this since the Romans.

"The first structure collapsed before it was finished. It seems that Ralph Wood grew increasingly worried that the second arch would go the same way, when people were actually on it.

"His behaviour got more and more odd. Eventually, he just disappeared."

The group won a £29,000 grant for the production from the National Lottery. It has been showing the play, written by Jim Woodlands, to pupils in schools across County Durham.

Ms Cole said: "This is not just a dry, historic play, it celebrates the creation of the Causey Arch and, hopefully, will encourage people to visit. It was a marvel of its time."

Arch Enemies shows at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, on Wednesday, April 9, at 1.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £5, available from the box office on (01207) 218899.