By Pamela McGowan

Last updated 14:53, Thursday, 28 August 2008

FENCING erected around a historic Carlisle bridge has been torn down by vandals, prompting safety concerns.

• View more pictures...

No go: People have been stopped from walking across

The old Waverley Railway Bridge – which stretches over the River Eden, linking Newtown and Etterby – has become an unofficial walkway.

A few weeks ago the Department of Transport, which owns the bridge, erected a 15ft metal fence to stop pedestrians using it as a throughway.

It said previous attempts to block it off using wooden gates had failed due to vandalism.

But now the new metal fence has also been damaged, prompting fears that it may fall on to the walkway below and injure someone.

One local resident, Roy Gadsby, of Granville Road, said he has also seen youths climbing round the fence onto the bridge and is worried they may fall into the river.

He has reported it to British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing the bridge, and they are looking into it.

But he believes that, even if it is repaired, this is just a short-term solution. Instead he wants to see the bridge properly restored and turned into a public walkway.

The Waverley Railway Line opened in 1862 and until it closed in 1969, ran south from Edinburgh, through the Scottish Borders to Carlisle.

A Department of Transport spokesman said that the viaduct is not a proper right of way and is listed, which is why it had been decided to close it off.

pmcgowan@cngroup.co.uk