NEWS that an historic bridge looks likely to stay open during repair work has pleased market town traders.

The sixteenth century County Bridge in Barnard Castle has remained open to traffic and pedestrians since it was damaged by a low loader four weeks ago.

But traders unhappy at the planned closure of the bridge during the school summer holidays, to enable essential repair work to the parapet, have been lobbying county hall to find a compromise.

The county council had maintained that, following previous consultation, the summer holidays was the best time to close it as it could not leave it damaged indefinitely. But traders disagreed.

Perry Clifton, who owns Beavers restaurant at the top of The Bank, had earlier said that he planned to sue the insurance company of the business whose driver caused the damage.

While pleased with the news that the bridge might remain open, he said he would have to make a decision to see whether the queuing traffic would affect trade.

However, he praised the county council, which he said had been very understanding of the plight of the traders and of farmers, already facing a tough time following the effects of foot-and-mouth disease last year.

"I will wait to see what happens, before taking stock of the situation, then decide where to go from there," he added.

Fellow restaurateur Bill Oldfield, who also trades on The Bank, said he had spoken to the county council's director of environment and technical services, Chris Tunstall, on Wednesday.

"Assuming the bridge is going to stay open, then you can say that I am absolutely delighted," he said. "It goes to prove how things can be achieved if reasonable people can get round the table and talk."

However, the county council, while hopeful of the bridge remaining open, was playing down any certainty.

"The outcome of a continuing consultation exercise means that we are investigating how the work can be done without closing the bridge," said a spokeswoman.

"We are sympathetic to traders and farmers trying to recover from foot-and-mouth and don't want to do anything else to affect the economy of the area.

"I was trying to avoid saying nothing is set in stone, but if the bridge does end up having to be closed we will carry on with consultation regarding the right time to do it."