YOUNG trees have had to be chopped down to make way for repair work on a flood-damaged bridge.

Trees on the Richmond side of the town's Mercury Bridge were removed by contractors working to make the bridge safe before the £1m reconstruction project gets under way.

The bridge, which dates from 1846, was closed to all traffic early in June when flooding in the Swale damaged the central pier, sending part of the parapet into the river.

Peter Featherstone, development control team leader at Richmondshire District Council, said workers would normally need prior approval before felling trees in a conservation area.

But he said the importance of working quickly on the bridge, with the intention of reopening it to traffic before December, meant they were not planning to take enforcement action.

He said: "It is essential that the work to the bridge is carried out. They were not major trees in their own right.

"Normally they should ask for consent before removing trees in a conservation area and, once we have got an application, the council has six weeks to consider."

Brian Jones, client unit manager at North Yorkshire County Council, said all work had been carried out in close consultation with the district council.

He said the bridge had now been made safe to cut out the risk of further collapse, with a temporary support in place.

Detailed reconstruction work on the bridge's damaged central pier will begin next week, with piling from the top of the bridge.

Once this has been completed repairs will start to the bottom of the pier.

County environmental services director Mike Moore said: "We are still on target to have the bridge fully reopened to traffic in December.

"To make sure that we have kept to our programme, extended working hours have been put in at critical stages. This will continue as necessary and when working conditions permit.