A FAMILY has been left distressed and upset after a crumbling bridge fell into their garden.

The Bell family, who live on Bridge Street in Longtown, returned home from shopping to find their garden was covered in sandstone and rubble.

“When we came back I thought something wasn’t right,” explained Sandra Bell, 47.

“We came back at about 12.15pm and my husband said ‘oh my goodness me, the bridge has collapsed’.

“I called 101 and waited half an hour to get through and was cut off so I called 999.”

Explaining the conversation she had with police Mrs Bell, who lives just before the bridge, said: “I said ‘the footpath has collapsed, the wall is in my garden’. I must admit, they came out straight away and cordoned it all off.”

The whole ordeal has had a negative impact on the family. “We were just shocked,” explained Mrs Bell. “It’s been very distressing and upsetting to see it, it’s been awful.

“The whole garden is covered in rubble.”

The family live on the side of the bridge – which carries the A7 across the River Esk in Longtown – closest to the town centre. It suffered a partial collapse on Saturday.

Sandra feels she has been kept in the dark about what is happening with it. “I have no idea what is going to happen. We are waiting to see what they are going to do – nobody has been told.

“We don’t know when the rubble is going to be there and the traffic lights in place.

“I have got to leave the back gate open at all times for Highways staff to come and go. They have told us nothing.”

Sandra is eager for a resolution.

“I just wish it was sorted, it could take months.

“We will have to wait and see what happens now and see what they are going to do.”

The road has since been operating with one lane and temporary traffic lights.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “The traffic management on the A7 in Longtown near Longtown Bridge – installed as a precaution last week as a result of a retaining wall adjacent to the carriageway collapsing at the weekend during heavy rainfall – remains in place.

“An inspection was undertaken on Wednesday and the initial outcome is that the wall can be repaired without delay. The cause of the collapse is considered to be groundswell.”

The council is hoping to avoid this happening again.

“During the repairs we may include some ground anchors, usually steel rods and plates, and drains which will help the wall resist future groundswell.

“A start date for the work has not yet been confirmed due to the scale of the works still being determined. This section of the A7, due to the proximity of the structure, over the river has a number of utilities, including gas, electricity and water. As a result we are working with a number of partner agencies to plan and carry out the works with minimal disruption.”