FRUSTRATED drivers were left sweating in their cars after the Stockton Heath swing bridge became stuck in the soaring temperatures this afternoon, Thursday.

The bridge on London Road was stuck for more than 30 minutes this afternoon.

That left many drivers and cars unable to get across the bridge that links the village to the town centre and the north of Warrington.

It has since reopened.

In April 2023, the bridge is set to undergo a £6 million refurbishment which will see it closed for around nine months.

The works will involve Peel Ports investing around £6 million in undertaking a complete structural, mechanical, electrical refurbishment and repainting programme to improve the longevity of the bridge.

Residents have raised concerns over traffic disruption and alternative pedestrian and bus routes.

In relation to these concerns and in response to questions asked by the Warrington Guardian about alternative travel routes, in April a WBC spokesperson said: “We will be working with Peel Ports over the coming months to develop a mitigation and logistics plan.

“This will help us to prepare and inform the community about the works and the social, transport, environmental, and economic implications of the refurbishment of the bridge.

“This will include a focus on maintaining normal movement of traffic and minimising disruption to people in Warrington as much as possible, with further information to follow in due course.”