COUNCILS could end up paying for safety measures at rail bridges across the region.

The Northern Echo reported earlier this week how villagers are demanding that crash barriers be provided at Dalton Bridge, near Darlington.

Their concerns arose after driver Kevin Geldard swerved to avoid a lorry and was only saved from plunging down the embankment by a few bushes and a wooden fence.

But Railtrack, which owns the bridge, has said that although it is willing to meet residents and council officials to discuss safety measures, it is not responsible for funding roadside crash barriers.

The announcement came as North Yorkshire County Council said it did not have the money to carry out immediate safety improvements.

Mike Moore, director of environmental services, said: "I think they (Railtrack) have a responsibility, and we need to talk it through with them."

He said the council had 125 rail structures to consider and needed to carry out a risk assessment to decide which ones took priority.

Dalton councillor Jane Parlour said: "I think as a matter of urgency it needs to be looked at, from both a highways and rail safety point of view."

Durham County Council launched a survey of railway bridges after the Selby crash, in North Yorkshire.

It has already spent £20,000 fitting crash barriers after The Northern Echo highlighted a danger at Plawsworth, near Durham City.

A spokesman for Durham council said the prime concern was that safety issues were addressed first.

"We have carried out work to one bridge costing in the region of £20,000, and if every bridge in the survey needed the same kind of work, you can see it is going to add up to a considerable amount of money.

"We are still seeking a meeting with Railtrack to clarify our respective areas of responsibility with regard to these bridges and their roadside approaches," he said.