A CRUCIAL meeting is set to take place tonight (Wednesday) to discuss repairing Bidford's bridge after a farm vehicle crashed into the medieval structure.

It is hoped that organisations involved with the bridge, including Warwickshire County Council and Historic England, will be able to agree a timetable of repair work including when it will re-open to traffic.

Heavy vehicles may also be restricted from using the bridge with the county council saying it would looking at options once repairs had been completed.

Bidford bridge has been closed to vehicles since Tuesday when a crop spreader crashed into its side causing a large part of the 600-year-old bridge to crumble into the river below.

The medieval bridge will need to be partially dismantled and significant repairs will have to be carried out on the stone parapet, spandrel wall and central pier following Tuesday's crash.

While the bridge remains closed to traffic for at least two to three months, the parish council has opened up at the south end of Monie Meadow, Honeybourne Road and all businesses remain open.

People can cross the bridge on foot but daily inspections are being carried out for safety and Avon Navigation Trust has carried out work to ensure the safety of all boats using the River Avon.

Warwickshire County Council said it had no date for the medieval bridge to be completed but more should be known after the meeting.

Council representatives met with various stakeholders on the site shortly after the incident including Historic England, the Navigation Trust, the Environment Agency, maintenance contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places and their sub-contractors for scaffolding, stonemasons and diving contractors for underwater and confined space works.

Design, operation and progress meetings with the parties are planned as work begins and going forward.

Warwickshire County Council spokesman said: “Bridge maintenance engineers have assessed the damage and determined that partial dismantling of the damaged parapet will be required and repairs to the pier at river level, and to the face of pedestrians landings are necessary.

"Diversion routes will be in place for the duration of the works and the county council will keep the parish and district council and the public informed of developments as they take place.

“We will aim to minimise disruption to local businesses where we can.

"It is our immediate priority to complete the repairs but once this has been done our long term strategy will consider options to restrict use of the bridge by heavy vehicles."