A POPULAR footpath could remain closed until the end of April after a bridge across the Colne Water collapsed.

The timber bridge is one of three on the section of the Ferndean Way riverside walk between Ball Grove Park, in Winewall, Colne, and Laneshawbridge.

It was torn from its foundations after heavy rainfall on Sunday night caused the water level to rise above the height of the bridge and it was eventually swept away in the flood.

Pendle Council's countryside access officer, Tom Partridge, said it could cost around £3,500 to replace the bridge, which he said has been there for about 20 years.

He said: "This is one of our busiest footpaths and the loss of a footbridge will be felt by the many people who regularly use it. The footpath is not recorded on the definitive footpath map which means it will not be automatically replaced within existing budgets held by Lancashire County Council. However, every effort will be made to secure the necessary funding as soon as possible so that this attractive footpath can be re-opened.

"When the bridge is replaced we are going to increase the height of the piers which it stands on by at least another foot so that the exceptionally high water flows which seem to be occurring more frequently will flow underneath it. We will also do the same with the bridge we recently replaced."

The footpath affected is about one mile long and crosses the river at intervals across three bridges.

It is only 18 months since the bridge nearest to Ball Grove Park was destroyed by flood water. That bridge has now been replaced and this time withstood the pressure of the water.

Mr Partridge said: "We have put up signs at the start of the footpath to advise people that the bridge has collapsed but the footpath up to the bridge can still be used as a walk.

"We have put barricades up in front of where the bridge should be in case someone absent mindedly tries to walk the same route they walk every day.

"I am fairly optimistic that we should be able to have the replacement bridge ready hopefully by the end of the April."

Boulsworth ward councillor Jo Belbin said: "Ferndeane is a very popular walk to Wycoller and, while maybe not as busy in February, we will do our best to get it replaced. It could cost around £3,500 to replace it so it's going to be difficult finding that with the budget being so tight. The budget is spent up for this year so we would have to be looking at next year's budget.

"People would be able to walk along the footpath but once they got to where the bridge was they would have to turn back."