A COUNTRY road has had to be closed to traffic after a lorry caused severe damage to two bridges.

The two Grade II-listed structures were damaged when a Dutch articulated lorry travelled over them despite a 13-tonne weight restriction.

Both Buttercrambe Bridge and Buttercrambe Mill bridges near Malton have had to be closed for repairs, as has the road between them.

The Mill bridge suffered the most, with 14 metres of the southern masonry parapet being demolished. The stonework collapsed on to the road.

Emergency arrangements are being made to erect scaffolding and find replacement stone.

It is hoped the repair work will be able to start before the end of this week.

It is hoped the road will be able to re-open to traffic by September 12.

"Progress will, to some extent, be dictated by the amount of replacement stone required," said a county council spokesman.

"If there are problems with the supply of this stone, then temporary arrangements will be made to open the bridges to traffic."