Repairs on Melverley Bridge have been completed, allowing it to reopen with a 7.5-tonne weight limit.

Shropshire Council and Powys County Council are now in talks to restore unrestricted access to the bridge.

They are considering the funding needed for further necessary works.

Shropshire Council is working with its maintenance contractor, Kier, to explore the feasibility of localised repairs or methods to replace the bridge quickly.

Both councils are aware of the challenges the current weight restrictions pose to farming communities and are eager to address these concerns promptly.

To minimise further disruption, Powys County Council has agreed to delay implementing a width restriction on the nearby Llandrinio Bridge until the Melverley Bridge works are complete and the weight restriction is lifted.

Llandrinio Bridge is a narrow, listed structure which has suffered significant damage from collisions and continued use by large, heavy vehicles.

Measures to prevent further damage will be introduced at a later date.

Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: "I’m pleased that this work has now been completed and that the bridge is open again to vehicles below the 7.5t weight limit - and I’d like to thank all involved.

"We’ll now work closely with Powys County Council so that the bridge can be opened to all traffic as soon as possible."

According to the councils, further updates on the plans for Melverley Bridge will be provided as options and proposals are developed.

Councillor Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a greener Powys, said: "Maintaining the county’s road network and bridges is a continuous task, made more difficult when structures are often no longer fit for purpose with larger vehicles and an increasing volume of traffic.

"Working together with colleagues from Shropshire Council, we are hoping to develop a plan of action to get the flow of traffic on Melverley Bridge back to normal as soon as possible."