Richmond received a special Christmas present yesterday, when Santa was in town to help re-open the Mercury bridge.

Repairs to the 150-year-old bridge, closed since serious flood damage in June, were completed on schedule in spite of poor weather and subsequent flooding in the autumn.

Team work by all involved was praised by traders and civic dignitaries, who gathered to watch Santa's sleigh cross the bridge, carrying North Yorkshire county council chairman, Coun Roy Wilson, who cut a ribbon to declare the route open.

Coun Wilson said: "This has been a demonstration of team work that is unsurpassed."

Mr Mike Moore, county council director of environmental services, was delighted the team had seen its efforts rewarded by a pre-Christmas re-opening.

"It has undoubtedly been a very challenging engineering exercise which has been made difficult throughout by exceptionally bad weather conditions and very difficult foundation problems for the bridge," he said.

"I am extremely grateful for the co-operation we have been shown by all of the official bodies, particularly Richmondshire district council and the local parish and town councils, and for the understanding shown by residents and traders of Richmond."

Coun John Harris, mayor of Richmond, said the re-opening was the best Christmas present Richmond could have received.

"I congratulate the county council and contractors on a splendid job done in very difficult circumstances, while keeping to a very tight timetable," he said. "I have been impressed by their professionalism and dedication."

Dr Mike Nicholls, president of Richmond business and tourism association, welcomed the re-opening on behalf of traders. "The temporary traffic light system for light vehicles worked very well and, within a week of its introduction, people were remarking that flows were getting back to reasonable levels," he said. "Things are now back to normal and it is up to Richmond now to capitalise on that."

The bridge was closed to all traffic and pedestrians in early June when floodwater in the river Swale underscoured the central pier, causing parts of the parapet and arches to collapse. A temporary surface for pedestrians and light vehicles was installed at the beginning of October.

Repair work was carried out by the county council, contractors Morrison Construction, designers Pell Frischmann and project managers Mouchel.

Mr David Bull, divisional director of Morrison, said: "The unprecedented weather conditions over the past two months have given us a few problems, but we were determined to complete work on the bridge as planned."

Repairing the damaged underwater foundations of the central pier was the biggest problem. A temporary dam was created to form a dry working area but flooding breached it several times and pumps had to be installed. Heavy rain also slowed the stonemasons' work.

"However, we and the county councul did promise that the repairs would be completed before the end of the year and we are delighted that the residents of Richmond now have their bridge back in working order in time for Christmas," said Mr Bull.

Final pointing to the masonry will be completed in the new year.