BUSINESSes seriously affected by the closure of a flood-damaged bridge are appealing for financial support from local authorities and the Government.

The appeal is the latest stage in the Richmond Business and Tourism Association's campaign to raise awareness of the financial damage caused by the closure of Mercury Bridge.

The nineteenth century landmark, one of the main routes over the River Swale, collapsed under the pressure of severe flooding last month.

And with county council officials saying repair work is likely to take until December to complete, traders in Richmond sare becoming increasingly concerned.

Business leaders, councillors and county council officials in charge of the repair project met at the weekend to discuss the way ahead for the town.

Association chairman Mike Nicholls said his group was now encouraging traders to apply to Richmondshire District Council for rate relief and it had also written to Richmond MP William Hague asking whether there were Government funds available to help out.

The association is also hoping to set up an advertising committee to promote Richmond across North Yorkshire, and particularly in Catterick Garrison, while the bridge is closed.

North Yorkshire's environmental services director Mike Moore has said he is more than 50 per cent confident that one lane could be opened, with traffic lights, by the end of September.

Stone has now been placed in the river to divert flows away from the damaged central pier and steel arches are supporting the bridge until girders arrive on site in August.

Mr Moore said: "Once the bridge structure is safe a detailed assessment will be carried out to determine the full extent of the damage and the design requirements for the repair.

"After this inspection there is a possibility of opening the bridge for pedestrian and traffic.

"Everyone on the team is very conscious of the effect this bridge closure is having on Richmond and the surrounding area, " he said.

But Mr Nicholls said the town's traders feared that could be too late.

"People will have found other places to go and even if the bridge was fully re-opened they might not come back.