A BELOVED footway which was closed suddenly for bridge repairs should be open again by Christmas.

Campaigners voiced their dismay in August when access to part of Braintree’s Flitch Way was blocked amid safety concerns.

Essex County Council engineers had ruled Hazelmere Bridge along the pathway was not safe.

The announcement was only made the day before the closure and the diversion put in place was not wheelchair accessible.

The county council has now announced the Flitch Way will be open again before Christmas.

Don Smith, chairman of Rayne Parish Council, said it was good news.

He said: "The council just barricaded it off, they didn't make it clear and didn't implement a diversion.

"It took them until September until they put up proper closure signs and indicated where the diversion was.

"It's good news as it's used by a lot of people."

Wendy Moss, a member of the Friends of Flitch Way group had said the bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges along the Flitch Way.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The project is currently is the design phase.

"Work has been scheduled and we plan to have the road reopened before Christmas.”