A PLAQUE now tells the story of Eastham Bridge over the River Teme.

It comes a year after the opening of the new bridge.

There has been a crossing for centuries, but it had been difficult and dangerous especially when the level of the river was high.

It was in 1790 that the Reverend Christopher Whitehead arrived and started fund raising for a bridge over the river to link the villages of Eastham and Lindridge.

The bridge charged a toll and was built with local materials.

Work was completed in 1794 and the bridge was opened.

After 150 years it was transferred to Worcestershire County Council in 1898 when tolls were abolished.

There were also repairs including the replacement of some bricks.

The toll house was demolished in 1908 but a pill box was put on the bridge between 1939 and 1945 to help defend it had there been an invasion.

Despite the fact that the bridge was built to carry nothing heavier than a horse drawn farm cart there were no weight restrictions on the bridge.

In December 2016, Worcestershire County Council say that it was inspected and given a clean bill of health.

But on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 24 in 2016 on a calm spring afternoon school mini buses were approaching the bridge when the structure collapsed.

Fortunately, the buses were able to stop in time.