A Ludlow road which was washed away in the devastating floods of July 2007 will be closed for about five months while a £1 million bridge is built.

Shropshire County Council hopes to start work on the bridge on April 14.

It is constructing an extra-wide bridge over the River Corve, on Coronation Avenue, which can withstand the type of flooding that caused the former structure to collapse.

People face diversions and delays because traffic will be diverted away from Coronation Avenue.

Today Shropshire County Council spokeswoman Penny Spencer said: “Unfortunately, in order to carry out the work it will be necessary to close the B4361, Coronation Avenue, to traffic and pedestrians for much of the construction period.

“This closure is programmed to start on 21 April 2008 and is expected to remain in place until the end of September 2008, when the road will be reopened under traffic light control.”

Diversions will be in operation with traffic routed around Ludlow, via the A49.

Mrs Spencer added pedestrians would be able to use Lower Corve Street and Bromfield Road. However, Lower Corve Street will be closed to motorists.

Meanwhile, the site of a former Ludlow house that was dramatically washed away in the floods of July 2007 has sold for almost twice the expected amount at auction.

Ludlow-based Nock Deighton last night sold the site of 57a Lower Corve Street for £36,000. It is believed it was bought by a local resident for use as a garden.

South Shropshire District Council has ruled out the possibility of the site being for a domestic dwelling.