SINKING Breaston Bridge in Leigh is being rebuilt.

Work started last week on a £1.3 million scheme to rebuild the bridge, which runs over Pennington Brook on Warrington Road.

The work has been ordered by the Environment Agency after it was discovered that the bridge has been gradually sinking over the past 50 years due to mining subsidence.

Rebuilding work, which is being paid for by the Coal Authority, will raise the height of the bridge by two metres.

And the new structure will also be capable of taking 40-tonne lorries, as demanded by EC regulations.

Council engineers say Warrington Road will be kept open at all times by providing a temporary road bridge alongside the existing bridge.

Delays from time to time will be caused by the need to 'chicane' the road which will slow down traffic.

Contractors F.G. Whitley and Sons, of Buckley in North Wales will carry out the work.

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