The remains of a historic Shropshire bridge which collapsed due to flood damage are to be stored and could be used to create a new structure at the site.

Sheinton Bridge crashed down into Hughley Brook on October 22. The bridge, believed to date from the 1830s, was damaged during the floods in early September.

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Shropshire County Council bridge team leader John Williams said today: “The old bridge has now been taken down and the bricks and stones taken into storage for possible use in the new bridge. It is something we have to do as the bridge is listed.”

He added: “We are looking to put a temporary Bailey bridge up alongside the old one as soon as possible. Work on that hasn’t started yet because we need to set it on the field alongside the road. We are meeting the landowners and their agents tomorrow so we can discuss and finalise plans.

“The temporary bridge will be there to carry traffic until the new bridge is available for us.”

Until the temporary bridge is opened, the council will be gritting the road from Sheinton to the A4169 road near Much Wenlock to make the diversion safer during the colder weather. The bridge collapsed just two weeks after a £30,000 project to repair the flood-damaged structure began. 

Workers fled to safety after cracks were spotted opening up on the bridge.