A NATIONAL conservation group has praised sensitive work to restore Richmond's flood-ravaged Mercury Bridge.

The central pier of the crossing over the Swale was washed away after the downpours in June and work has been going on since to restore the town's links to the south.

A temporary structure opened earlier this month to allow light traffic and pedestrians back over the central span.

But a more permanent restoration project is scheduled for completion in December and, yesterday, it was announced that English Heritage has commended the scheme.

Representatives who visited the bridge are reported to have been delighted with "the amount of care and ingenuity that has been shown'' repairing the listed bridge, which dates back to 1846.