POLICE have warned drivers not to use a bridge over the River Tees because of fears it may collapse.

Confusion surrounds who owns the dilapidated bridge to Barforth Hall, in Gainford, County Durham. With neither adjacent landowners nor the county council prepared to accept ownership and pay for repairs, the 50-year-old bridge is starting to wear out.

About five years ago, one of the supporting piers collapsed into the river.

There are also rotting and broken wooden planks and, yesterday, Durham County Council made temporary repairs to damaged metal mesh.

The bridge serves about eight homes at Barforth Hall and the surrounding area.

The land to the north of the river is owned by Marwood Estate, part of Lord Barnard’s Raby Estates. Last week, signs were erected by Marwood warning people about the danger.

Andrew Lewis, from Raby Estates, said: “Because we own the access road to the bridge we thought we had a duty of care to do something. I went down to inspect it and I didn’t believe it was safe.

“People have said that sat navs will take them over the bridge and, if a lorry went over it, I don’t think we would ever see it again.”

But yesterday, despite warnings, drivers were still using the bridge.

The owners of Barforth Hall, the Forrest family, have conducted a land search and said the bridge does not belong to them.

PC Dave Williamson, the beat officer for Gainford, said: “We are aware that there is a serious question mark over the safety of the structure.

Until this matter is resolved, our advice to the community is to avoid using the bridge on foot, via horseback, and, in particular, in a vehicle.

“Until the safety of the bridge can be assured police vehicles will not travel over it and will use an alternative route.”

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: “This bridge is a privately-owned structure, which stands on private ground which is not a highway or a right of way.

“Following an inspection earlier this week by county council structural engineers, a report is being drawn up.

Any further action by the council will be linked to the findings of that inspection.”