Worthing mum's bridge fears after accident

Carla Head and her daughter Ria were walking over Ladydell Bridge, in Ladydell Road, Worthing, to pick up her son Asa from Chesswood Junior School when the five-year-old slipped and fell, sustaining deep grazes on her legs and hands.

The footbridge was resurfaced seven weeks ago, but Mrs Head, from King Edward Avenue, Worthing, claimed that poor conditions underfoot caused her daughter’s accident.

She said: “You can see how uneven the surface is and where it is already breaking up. Ria was walking close to me because the surface hadn’t bedded down yet and suddenly she slipped and just went flying.

“It was one of those situations where you didn’t know what to do: my daughter had blood coming out of her hands and legs and my son was waiting for me to pick him up.”

Mrs Head also claimed that loose chippings were being churned up into people’s faces by passing bikes and scooters, and that the bridge’s surface was a concern to fellow parents.

A spokesperson for Network Rail, which is responsible for maintenance of the footbridge, said: “We’ve been contacted by the family of this young lady about her accident and we have asked our project manager to go back and investigate the condition of the bridge surface, to see if any more work needs to be done.

“Anyone who has any concerns about the railway, including our bridges, should contact our helpline on 03457 11 41 41.”