A railway bridge is set to be repaired after experts deemed it to be structurally unsafe.

Network Rail, the organisation responsible for maintaining the country's train infrastructure, said one of the bridges in Aspatria is in need of being replaced.

Experts want the bridge, off the A596 to Springkell, to be demolished before it gets into a worse state.

Following planning approval from Allerdale Council, scoping work is being carried out to assess exactly what needs to be done.

A Network Rail spokesman said it needed to be urgently replaced - although no start date had yet been confirmed.

He added: "We are hoping to be finished by late this year or early in 2017.

"There is currently a three-tonne weight restriction in place due to the weakness of the bridge."

The News & Star understands that the bridge provides access to a farm and is used by heavy vehicles on a daily basis.

The spokesman added: "The weight limit has been imposed on it for some time now.

"While the replacement is being carried out, alternative access for those who require it has been arranged."

He said Network Rail was not able to be more specific about the timescale for the work.

Aspatria Town Council has supported the temporary widening of part of the A596 and removing a section of wall to allow access during the replacement work.

The bridge is the first one coming into the town from the Wigton end.