Road incident causes ‘significant damage’ to Willington Bridge …

Police in a Derbyshire village are investigating a "large incident" that has caused significant damage to a bridge. Officers from the Swadlincote Safer Neighbourhood Team ^[1] (SNT) have received a number of reports that an incident on Willington Bridge in Willington has caused a hole in the bridge.

The bridge across the River Trent connects the villages of Willington and Repton ^[2]. The bridge was built in 1839, and was originally a toll bridge, until 1898 when the toll was removed.

On Friday, September 8, following several residents contacting the police, officers found significant damage to the structure of the bridge that was consistent with a car crash.

Initial enquiries took place to rule out the possibility of a vehicle or person being in the river below the bridge. Police say that once this was completed the area was made as safe as possible ^[3] and Derbyshire Highways was made aware of the incident.

Poll: Do you feel safe in Derby city centre?^[4]

A witness, who wished to remain unnamed, said: "I was in a car when a lorry hit it. It made a big bang. The lorry carried on driving but there was lots of traffic at the time." At this time it has not been confirmed by police what vehicle caused the damage.

The damage to the bridge (Image: Submitted)

One local reported that they had seen police "scouring" a track at a nearby nature reserve. PC Williams and Stafford of the Swadlincote SNT began searching for the vehicle before encountering another incident.

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References

^{^} Swadlincote Safer Neighbourhood Team (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^{^} the River Trent connects the villages of Willington and Repton (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^{^} Police say that once this was completed the area was made as safe as possible (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^{^} Do you feel safe in Derby city centre? (xd.wayin.com)
^{^} the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)