Plans for a temporary replacement for a collapsed historic Shropshire bridge have had to be put on hold – until a landowner returns from holiday.

Engineers working at Sheinton Bridge, which collapsed dramatically on Wednesday afternoon, are having to wait for the landowner to get back before starting work.

See our picture gallery here: Scene of bridge collapse 

A specialist supplier visited the site on Thursday morning to determine whether it was possible to put up a temporary bridge across Hughley Brook.

It was confirmed the plan was feasible, but work cannot start until the landowner agrees to let the supplier onto their land.

John Williams, Shropshire County Council’s bridge team leader, said: “A specialist supplier visited the site yesterday to assess the logistics of erecting a temporary bridge and to confirm whether they can provide the bridge at such short notice.

“The supplier has confirmed that it is feasible, however we cannot commit to the temporary bridge until we have negotiated the use of land with the landowner.

“We are in the process of arranging a meeting with the landowner, who is currently on holiday.”

The bridge collapsed just two weeks after a £30,000 project to repair the flood-damaged structure began.

The bridge, believed to date from the 1830s, was damaged during the floods in early September.

Workers fled to safety after cracks were spotted opening up and within 10 minutes the bridge had collapsed into the brook.

Mr Williams revealed earlier in the week that work on rebuilding the bridge could take until after next summer to complete.