FIVE bridges in Worcestershire have been found to be unsafe for the heaviest vehicles on our roads, according to new data. 

Motoring charity, RAC Foundation carried out research on figures obtained through freedom of  information requests.

Five bridges were found to be unable to carry the largest 44-tonne lorries allowed on UK roads. 

A Worcestershire county council spokesperson said: "There are no Worcestershire county council owned structures on our strategic network with any weight restrictions on them.

"Only five bridges out of the county’s entire stock have weight restrictions and these are not connected with an environmental area restriction.

"All five are either pedestrian access only, canal overbridges on narrow country lanes or are situated on very narrow country lanes that are unsuitable for HGV’s.

"Two of which offer ‘dead end’ access to single properties.”

According to the charity, 2,928 out of the countries 73,208 road bridges were found to be substandard. 

RAC Foundation Director, Steve Gooding said: "As ever, we are grateful to all the authorities who answered our questions.

"This data should not be used as a stick to beat highway authorities with but seen as a weathervane which indicates the way the highway condition wind is blowing.

"While on the one hand it looks like councils are holding their own in keeping their road networks functioning, with every year which passes we are seeing the challenge of maintaining climate resilience increase in the face of more extreme weather."

Chairman of ADEPT National Bridges Group, Keith Harwood Said: "Our nation's highway infrastructure represents centuries of investment, serving as the backbone of our economy and communities.

"However, as our bridges age and face mounting pressures from increased traffic and the impacts of climate change, maintaining their resilience becomes increasingly critical."