Victoria Bridge at Kendal could re-open on Monday - or even as early as this weekend, says Cumbria County Council.

In a Tweet, the county council said: "Based on works completed so far, we anticipate that the bridge will re-open on Monday 5 August.

"However, if work progresses well, and the weather conditions remain dry, it may be possible to re-open the bridge at some point over the weekend."

Divers and engineers have been working around the clock to repair a major bridge in Kendal which was forced to close following fears it would crumble.

Victoria Bridge, on Sandes Avenue, remains shut to the public due to severe damage to the east pier of the structure, following a heavy downpour last week.

Since the closure of the ‘batman bridge’ on July 23, it has led to daily traffic mayhem in the town and surrounding villages, including Burneside.

The structure, which is around 150 years old, was closed to the public before in 2015 following the devastation of Storm Desmond.

A Cumbria County Council (CCC) spokesman said teams of engineers had been working 12 hour shifts over the past week to carry out extensive repair works including building a permanent support barrier.

“Dive teams and bridge engineers have placed 16 tonnes of grout bags around the damaged pier.

“Rock rolls – a robust and permanent supporting barrier – will be interlaced along the full length of the bridge abutment and placed in front of the grout bags to offer additional protection. Then 700 tonnes of ‘rip-rap’ (rock armour) will be placed immediately in front of the rock rolls.

“While teams are working all daylight hours to get the bridge re-opened as quickly as possible, they are also at the mercy of the weather,” he said.

“Further heavy rain is forecast throughout this week and this may increase the river level and delay works, but teams will remain onsite throughout until river levels drop,” added the spokesman.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We do fully understand and sympathise with the frustration and disruption caused by this closure, particularly for local businesses.

“However, these works are essential to maintaining Victoria Bridge and ensuring it is safe to use by vehicles and pedestrians – public safety must always be our top priority.”

“I am grateful to the local community for their understanding and patience, and to the divers and contractors working around the clock to get the job done. Please bear in mind that the teams working on site are carrying out a technical and complex project, which is dependent on clear and dry weather conditions and low river levels, whilst working in a challenging environment.”

Cllr James Airey, the Conservative group leader on CCC, said the council had adopted a “patch and make do approach”.

“The council knew three-and-a-half years ago that Victoria Bridge in Kendal needed permanent repairs,” he said.

“In the immediate aftermath of Storm Desmond the council received £117.6 million from the Government for proper repairs to this and other damaged roads and bridges in the county.

“Instead, the council has sat on its hands and adopted a patch and make-do approach which has now led to the emergency closure of one of the key routes through Kendal.”

The final stage of repairs, prior to re-opening of Victoria Bridge, will be a load test. This consists of placing a load of a known mass on a fixed point of the structure and recording any movement.