Engineers escape bridge collapse

A workman spotted a crack and ten minutes later the bridge collapsed

A historic bridge in Shropshire collapsed into a brook minutes after engineers working on it fled to safety.

They had been reinforcing the flood weakened foundations of Sheinton Bridge, near Cressage, when a contractor spotted a crack.

Bridge team leader John Williams said: "He saw a crack appearing in the bridge itself. He got out of the river and ten minutes later the bridge collapsed."

The listed bridge fell down at about 1400 BST on Wednesday. No-one was hurt.

It had been closed to traffic on the Sheinton Road to Much Wenlock for four weeks for repairs.

Engineers said prior to the collapse there had been no signs of any structural damage and no indication it would give way.

Investigations are being carried out into the cause of the collapse and Shropshire County Council has said it will have the bridge rebuilt.

It said it was also looking into the possibility of having a temporary bridge built alongside Sheinton Bridge until the work can be carried out in accordance with its listed structure conditions.