TWO east Durham bridges are to be replaced with pedestrian underpasses as part of a £500,000 highways programme.

It is hoped the work will make it easier for 40-tonne lorries to travel through the region.

Work will begin on Monday at Clara Street Bridge, in New Strangford Road, Seaham, and Queen Alexandra Road Bridge, also in Seaham.

The work is expected to be finished by mid-June.

Durham County Council's green scheme will see the steel footbridges put to good use on the other side of the county.

One will be installed at Wolsingham, in Weardale, while the other will be placed over the River Gaunless, at West Auckland, where recent floods wreaked havoc.

Chris Tunstall, the council's director of environment and technical services, said: "The two existing bridges are rather ugly concrete structures and the replacement underpasses will be much more pleasing to the eye.

"This work is the latest in a series of strengthening measures being undertaken by the council, and the project is important because it enables roads to safely carry the new 40 tonne Euro lorries, which is good for the economic development of the county.

He said the council was always keen to recycle, whether it be paper or footbridges.

"As similar schemes unfold in the future, we will seek to reuse materials wherever possible," he said.

"This project is an economic and environmental success story, and represents significant investment by the county council in the roads infrastructure of east Durham."

The bridges will be replaced with reinforced concrete underpasses, that will enable cyclists and pedestrians to walk under the road in safety.

Traffic will be kept flowing at both sites and temporary traffic lights will be used to keep disruption to a minimum.