MOTORISTS appear to have escaped severe delays to their journeys this morning as Holt Fleet bridge was shut for vital repair works to start.

Jon Fraser, network control manager for Worcestershire County Council's highways department, said traffic flows were not unusual for a Monday morning.

The bridge has been shut for an estimated three weeks due to essential repairs, and police officials declared the decision to close it was taken ''very reluctantly''.

"I don't think it was too bad actually," said Mr Fraser about this morning's rush hour traffic. He was monitoring routes around Worcester, Holt and Stourport-on-Severn.

"It was quite heavy in Stourport and it was also heavy through Worcester but then it always is. It doesn't seem to have made a significant impact."

The work - which will cost about £420,000 - is being carried out at the bridge, near Ombersley and includes waterproofing it and repairing the carriageway.

Signs have been placed on the A456 before Newnham Bridge, for traffic heading towards Droitwich and Bromsgrove, directing drivers either south along the A443 via the bridge at Worcester, or to the north along the A456, via the Bewdley by-pass bridge and on through Kidderminster.