AN “UGLY” new railway bridge in Brinkworth has been met with outrage from residents, and they are warning other towns to beware of befalling the same fate.

The Victorian bridge on School Hill Road in Brinkworth was replaced by Network Rail as part of its electrification project but many are displeased with its out of place finish.

The project will see more than 100 bridges rebuilt and Brinkworth residents hope that by highlighting problems others may get more say than they did.

A Network Rail spokesman said that the company was sorry villagers were unhappy with the bridge but said that it was made to measure and had to be cost effective.

They added: “As a public funded organisation, we must balance our duty to preserve the heritage of the railway with the best use of taxpayers’ money.”

Parish council chairman Elizabeth Threlfall said that the council plans to meet with Network Rail to discuss changes to the bridge and will be writing to their MP, James Gray.

She added: “I think there are some quite simple things that we could suggest to them that would not affect the structural integrity of the bridge and wouldn’t cost them too much.”