A LISTED bridge frequently damaged by lorries may be protected by restricting access.

The grade II-listed Blakey Bridge, near Thirsk, has sustained more than £30,000 worth of damage, mainly from heavy goods vehicles, in the past 15 years.

The bridge, which links Sowerby to the A19, is accessed by a narrow road with sharp bends.

It is closed while North Yorkshire County Council repairs damage from the last crash.

Locals are keen to see it protected, and nearly 100 people attended a public meeting to discuss the possibility of putting up bollards.

One idea was for the manufacturers of satellite navigation systems to take the route off their systems.

However, Eddy Hayward, an area highways manager, said: "We have spoken to sat-nav makers and asked them to take the route off their system, but the plea falls on stony ground.

"Some drivers have misunderstood the severity of the bridge, but we have tried to stop them by putting a chicane in near the A19 junction.

"But we need to do whatever is necessary to stop the bridge being damaged. Most lorries are quite wide, so putting something in to restrict the width of vehicles along there may work."

Sowerby Parish Council chairman Councillor Mark Robson said: "We can put signs and notices up, but some drivers will ignore them and try to cross the bridge anyway.

"We need a permanent solution to this problem, and putting bollards up to stop lorries seems a popular idea. It is now up to the county council to work with us to come back with the answer to resolve this."

The problem is made worse because farm traffic needs to have access to nearby fields.

Parish councillor Don Cartridge suggested closing the road permanently. He said: "A radical solution would be to close the bridge altogether and put bollards up to stop all traffic.

"It was a country lane and it may be wishful thinking, but could it not go back to being that?"