Demolition of 19th century bridge

The demolition is part of the Rugby Western Relief Road project

A disused railway bridge dating back to 1851 is being demolished as part of a £37m road scheme in Warwickshire.

The Lawford Road bridge opened as part of the LMS Rugby to Leamington line and 11 trains a day ran each way in 1922, but it closed to passengers in 1958.

The demolition began on Monday as part of the Rugby Western Relief Road project with work being done by the county council's contractor, Carillion.

The bridge work is expected to take two to three days to complete.

'Safe manner'

A senior engineer specialising in bridge and structural design working for the council, Pete Bones, said the removal of a brick arch bridge was "always a complex operation".

He said: "In years gone by, explosives would have been used, but this is not considered an option on health and safety as well as environmental grounds.

"It will have to be delicately taken down working from the inside of the arch in a safe manner to avoid the risk of masonry collapsing and causing injury to the workforce and damage to the machinery.

"Once the bridge and the approach embankments have been removed, it will allow the junction of the Rugby Western Relief Road with Lawford Road to progress."

The relief road has been due to partially open by the end of the year and fully open by the summer of next year.