Newbridge at Gunnislake has reopened after it was damaged by a van earlier this month and closed to traffic.

The bridge, normally used by thousands of vehicles a day travelling between Callington and Tavistock, reopened on Tuesday evening. A spokesman for Devon County Council, which carried out the repairs, said the work had been completed ahead of schedule.

The bridge was closed at the beginning of February when a van plunged through the parapet, badly damaging it and a section of the bridge. The driver managed to escape from his sinking vehicle.

'Engineers and stonemasons have worked hard to have the bridge reopen as quickly as possible,' said the spokesman.

Diversion signs which have been in place since police closed the road following the accident, which occurred at 9am on February 1, were removed on Wednesday morning.