RESIDENTS say they have been left stranded in their homes after a council closed a 50-year-old bridge across the River Tees over fears it may collapse.

Barforth Bridge is the direct link between a group of seven houses and Gainford, near Barnard Castle.

Over the past decade, the bridge – built by the Army to service a now disused quarry – has fallen into disrepair, with neither neighbouring landowners nor Durham County Council claiming ownership.

Five years ago, a supporting pier fell into the river, while several of the wooden boards are rotten.

Now, after an engineer examined the structure the local authority has condemned the bridge and banned vehicles from using it.

However, residents say their only alternate access road includes a one-mile stretch of dirt track that is impassable for most cars. The alternative route to Gainford is a six-mile detour, via nearby Winston, as opposed to the half-mile route over bridge.

Brian Dalby, one of the residents, said: “In the past four months, we’ve had four emergencies.

Ambulances came across the bridge, but an ambulance or a fire engine wouldn’t be able to get down that dirt track.

“We would like someone from the county council to try that road, even in a small car, because it’s impossible.”

Durham County Council said last night that work would start on improving the road today.

Despite fears over the bridge, residents say it is safe and will ignore the county council and continue to drive over it.

“I was told that this is a bailey bridge and that, even if all the supporting pillars weren’t there, it would still be strong enough,” said Mr Dalby.

Neighbour Kevin Dand said: “I have seen seven-and-a-half tonne wagons come over this bridge and it is fine.”

The houses are not connected to mains gas and rely on deliveries of coal and oil to heat their homes, and residents fear the delivery vans will not be able to get through.

Stuart Timmiss, Durham County Council’s head of planning, said: “Although the bridge has clearly been in this condition for some time, we have only recently been made aware of this. We have quickly sought expert advice and would not be doing the responsible thing if we did not act on that. Public safety is paramount and we are not willing to leave the residents at risk by ignoring professional advice.”

■ For a history of Barforth, go to the Echo Memories blog at northernecho.co.uk