WORK to strengthen the central pier of a bridge damaged by floods is under way and it could be reopened to traffic next month.

Piling work on Richmond's Mercury Bridge has started, with a rig on top of the bridge and piles sunk into the structure to make sure that it is stable. Once this is completed, repairs will be able to start on the bottom of the pier.

North Yorkshire County Council is also looking at the possibility of installing a temporary bridge on the existing structure, opening it to light traffic and pedestrians for the first time since it was closed by floods which hit the area in early June.

The temporary bridge would mean that one-way traffic could operate until the bridge is fully reopened, expected to be before the end of the year.

County environmental services director Mike Moore said: "Safety for the contractors working on the site is paramount.

"However, extended working hours have been put in at critical stages to keep the whole programme on schedule.

"We will continue to operate in that way as and when working conditions permit."