COUNTY council officials have ruled out the provision of a temporary Bailey bridge to reduce the impact of the closure of the flood-hit Mercury Bridge on Richmond traders.

The town's business and tourism association had written to North Yorkshire County Council to ask for the measure, but have now been told it would prove too costly.

Environmental services director Mike Moore said yesterday a Bailey bridge would cost more than £370,000 and could not be put in place until mid-October.

With the restoration on course to be completed in December, the temporary bridge would only have a two-month lifespan.

Mr Moore said: "That would not, in my opinion, be good value for money. The association needs to be reassured that everything is being done to restore traffic to the top of the existing bridge as soon as possible, and to complete the reconstruction of the damaged bridge."

Work to support the bridge with steel arches is now under way.

A feasibility study will be carried out in September to check on the possibility of re-opening the bridge to pedestrians and light traffic.

North Yorkshire's environmental services committee will consider the latest position at a meeting on Wednesday.