COUNCIL chiefs say they are working furiously to replace the collapsed Eastham Bridge - as frustrated villagers hit out at the wait.

Around 80 residents packed into a parish council meeting last night to grill highways bosses about what Worcestershire County Council is doing to repair the damage.

As the Worcester News exclusively revealed in June a new temporary bridge is not expected to be in place until December, as long as the plan goes to schedule.

Bosses at County Hall insist they are still on track to meet that target despite being bogged down in environmental red tape.

Some drawings showing how the new structure will look and a firm construction timetable is now expected to be released by the end of August.

In two months since the shocking collapse an ecological survey has been done to check for wildlife on the site, as well as other ground survey work.

Last night villagers said they felt "forgotten about", with some working parents saying they face 45-minute diversions until it is resolved.

The bridge has also left one farmer's land awkwardly split, as one section of their landscape sits on the left hand side of the collapsed bridge while the rest of the site lies on the right.

Mike and Celia Adams, who own the farm, land, called it "very frustrating", saying they face a 10-mile diversion to access their own land.

Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for highways, told the Worcester News: "We thank the residents of Eastham and the surrounding villages for their patience during what must be a frustrating time for them.

"We are doing everything we can to get a temporary bridge in place as soon as possible.

"We are still on schedule to have that temporary structure in place by the end of the year."

Jon Fraser, head of highways at the council, said: "There are three elements to it, one is the investigation which is still ongoing, another is the options available to us for a new structure and the third element is the permanent solution - all three of those are going forward.

"I understand everybody wants the bridge back as quickly as possible and we are working on that.

"Anyone can buy a bridge but you've got to construct the foundations for it and connect it to the roads network, that's got to be done properly.

"If someone wanted to build housing or an industrial development there's all sorts of environmental legislation to stop it happening quickly, just because it's a bridge and the boot is on the other foot, doesn't mean we can ignore the regulation.

"But a lot of positive work is going on behind the scenes and we hope to be in a position to reveal some drawings of the new structure and construction dates in about a month's time."

He added: "It's good that people are interested and we'll be regularly updating them on it."

The Grade II listed suddenly fell apart in May, with pieces of debris from the 200-year-old structure dropping into the River Teme, sparking an investigation.

A heroic school minibus driver ferrying children home was approaching the bridge at the time and only managed to divert off it seconds before disaster.

Talks have been going on with the likes of Historic England, Natural England and Malvern Hills District Council in recent weeks.

Since the collapse Councillor Adrian Hardman, a former county council leader, has called for a weight restriction on Eckington Bridge.