SAFETY fears have led to the closure of an 88-year-old bridge.

An anchor bolt stabilising the Transporter Bridge, on Teesside, has sheared off, it was confirmed last night.

The bolt is one of four holding the bridge in place, at the end of four vertical cables - two on the Middlesbrough side of the River Tees, and two on the Port Clarence bank.

A Middlesbrough Borough Council spokesman said the bolt shearing off had put extra strain on the other three cables.

Bridge closures have become increasingly common as old age catches up with the bridge.

It reopened in 1999 after a year-long closure and £350,000 worth of repairs, following the discovery of cracks in some of its rails. It shut again briefly when it was found that weight-bearing apparatus was being overloaded.

The latest repair work will result in the closure of the bridge for about a fortnight