WORK to repair a bridge near Long Preston has still not been done - despite promises made more than a year ago.

Mill Bridge, which lies on the Long Preston to Wigglesworth road, has been a cause of concern to local residents for several years.

Safety railings have been damaged numerous times after vehicles ran into the bridge, and there are currently gaps in the railings at either side.

The bridge has been in a similar state since at least November 1999.

When the Herald investigated back then, senior bridge engineer John Smith, of North Yorkshire County Council, said repair work would be carried out immediately.

He added that the bridge was not classed as a listed structure as first thought, which had delayed the work originally, and therefore repairs could be carried out in approximately a month's time.

He said new parapets had even been ordered.

However, more than a year later the Herald has been told no work has actually taken place.

Jean Rodgers, clerk to Long Preston Parish Council, said the last she had heard about the situation was that work would be carried out to repair and realign the bridge sometime in this financial year.

Craven district councillor Helen Firth has been campaigning to get work carried out on the bridge.

She told the Herald: "On numerous occasions they (North Yorkshire County Council) have been asked to make it safe.

"Children cross the bridge on foot and there is virtually no protection.

"At times of high rainfall there is quite a current in what seems like a quiet stream."

Coun Firth said she had "come up against a brick wall" every time she had contacted the county council.

"I think that the delay in acting upon this is a disgrace," she added.

"From the start of my contact with them they have known about the situation.

"The probable excuse is now foot and mouth but there was plenty of time to act before."

This week, Richard Marr, of the county council's highways department said he believed the bridge repairs were on a list of jobs to do this year.

He admitted some sort of safety barriers were needed, but said every time this work was carried out they were hit again by vehicles.

Mr Marr added that the long term plan for the bridge was to realign it and remove the sharp 90 degree bends so in the future the barriers would not be hit.