BRIDGWATER’S historic Town Bridge will not be fully repaired and restored in time for carnival, Somerset County Council has said.

A major overhaul to strengthen and repair the near 150-year-old bridge over the River Parrett began in August with the council hoping work would be finished before Bridgwater Carnival on Saturday, November 1.

Now it says the £347,000 renovation project will not be complete until November 21 due to the “scale and complexity” of the work being carried out.

However the council has been quick to point out that the carnival will be unaffected by these ongoing repairs as pedestrians will still be able to access the carnival route, which does not pass over the bridge.

Cllr Harvey Siggs, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “While we are working to finish this project as swiftly as possible, our priority has to be giving this structure the care and attention it deserves.”