DELIGHTED onlookers cheered as the first vehicle to cross Eastham Bridge since it collapsed last May made its way over the new structure.

Eastham Bridge, near Tenbury, reopened on Thursday afternoon, reconnecting the village with the A443 under control of temporary traffic lights.

Behind the wheel of the first bus to cross was Derek Trow – the driver who averted disaster by reversing a school bus with 11 children on board off the bridge, as it crumbled into the river Teme last May.

There is still work to be completed on the single carriageway bridge – including cladding it in bricks from the former, Grade II listed structure. It is hoped the work will finish by mid-summer.

Since the bridge collapsed on May 24 last year, frustrated villagers have faced a 10-mile detour to cross the river.

Paul Arnold, chair of Eastham Parish Council, said: "We are very happy. It is a big thing for us to have this open, because now we can access where we want to go.

"It has been a big nuisance to us all. We are happy."

Pete Jones, from Rochford, works at Kidderminster Hospital and says while the bridge has been shut, out-of-hours doctors have "struggled" to reach patients in the village.

"They have been struggling to get here in the middle of the night, it has been taking longer," said Mr Jones.

And relieved parents say it will make the daily school run much easier.

Kate Palmer, whose daughters go to Lindridge School, said: "I'm really happy because it means a shorter school day for them, we do not have to get up so early and we get home a bit earlier.

"We are really pleased, we are impressed. I think we are really lucky that everything can get back to normal."

Frances Meier, aged 61, from Eastham said: "It will make a huge difference. It will be great to have it open."

Jon Fraser, Highways manager at Worcestershire County Council, said: "I'm very delighted that we have reached this stage in the project. There is still some work to do to complete it but we have reached the stage now where we are able to reopen it for traffic.

"Everybody associated with the scheme has worked incredibly hard to get us to this position, and we are looking forward to the full completion of the project in the summer.

"I am sure the local community will welcome the reconnection of the village to the A443."