Tadcaster 'reunited' after historic bridge collapsed in floods

The North Yorkshire town of Tadcaster has been 'reunited' by a temporary footbridge after its historic bridge collapsed during floods at Christmas.

Mother and daughter Chrissie and Barbara Wilson, who live on opposite sides of the River Wharfe in Tadcaster, were the first two people across the bridge.

They met in the middle of the new footbridge and hugged and kissed before crossing to the west side of the town, followed by hundreds of delighted residents.

Chrissie, whose house in east Tadcaster was flooded on Boxing Day, has had to use a nearby viaduct to visit her mother in the west of the town, while Barbara has found it difficult to visit her daughter due to the distance by car without the road bridge.

Chrissie said she was "very relieved" to have the new footbridge.

She added: "It's a relief for the whole town."

The town has been divided since its 300-year-old road bridge came down on December 29.

But contractors have worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, since January 25 to create a new connection as quickly as possible.