River footbridge closed for up to eight weeks

A lifeline used daily by many people, the bridge may be out of action for up to two months while the cause of the breakdown is identified and repaired.

The bridge broke at around 11.30am on Friday as it was being retracted to let a boat pass through to the north of the harbour.

The foreman operating it at the time said that as the movable part reached about two thirds of the way back it suddenly started freewheeling and he was forced to apply the emergency brakes.

A loud bang was heard by many around the river as the brakes kicked in, but the bridge was travelling quite fast by this time and crashed back into its base, damaging the footings on the west bank.

Residents of Rope Walk, many of whom have in the past complained of being an isolated community, will now have to use a free temporary bus service that has been set up by West Sussex County Council which is responsible for the bridge or face the two-mile trek by foot, bike or car.

Nigel Galloway, spokesman for West Sussex County Council, said: "We don't yet know what has caused the breakdown. We have got experts coming in to look at it but it may be out of action for up to eight weeks.

"What we have done in the past, and will do again now, is run a free minibus service between Wharf Road and Ferry Road for people affected so that they don't have to face the two-mile drive that is the only other route.

"This transport will be free and run every half an hour from 5.30am until 11pm.

"We apologise to people for the inconvenience that this will cause, but we are doing our utmost to repair the bridge and get it working again."

Littlehampton harbour master Colin Hitchcock said that seeing as the bridge was stuck open and not closed, it would not affect the harbour's operational capabilities.

The last time the bridge was shut was in February, 2003, for 20 weeks, while maintenance work was carried out.