A NEWLY refurbished town centre bridge is to be shut again to check it is working properly.

Six weeks after Hayhurst Bridge was reopened, British Waterways plans a series of mechanical and electrical checks and inspections.

The first will take place this Sunday, December 12, between 6am and 6pm.

It will be shut again for four further Sundays, but these will be delayed until the New Year to minimise disruption during the festive period.

The 106-year-old bridge was shut for nine months for a £3.5million refurbishment.

It reopened to the public on November 3 and its first operation went smoothly.

British Waterways says that the Sunday checks will make sure that the refurbishment has worked and the bridge is operating properly.

The reopening of the bridge initially led to traffic chaos in Northwich town centre.