RESIDENTS have been warned that a bridge over a railway in the centre of their village is to be replaced.

The work to the bridge at Middleton St George is to take place in about one years’ time and will be done over two weekends.

Sue Dobson, from Darlington Borough Council’s highways department, told a recent meeting of Middleton St George Parish the work was being carried out to allow the railway line to carry larger freight wagons from Teesside.

She said it was hoped to carry out the work over the school half-term break to minimise disruption She said various option were looked at , such as raising the level of the bridge or dropping the level of the track, but replacing the bridge represented the best value for money.

Ms Dobson added: “This is quite a major engineering undertaking. We’ve been working with Network Rail for quite some time.”

She said work would also be carried out to improve the station, including installing CCTV and waiting areas. She said that organisations such as the parish council could also ‘adopt’ the station Members agreed to have a look around the station in the Spring to see what needed to be done.