URGENT work to replace a crumbling Worcestershire road is to begin after county councillors approved the plans.

Engineering assessments of the A4104, leading into Upton-upon-Severn, found that the viaduct was suffering from serious structural defects.

The council cabinet yesterday agreed that work to replace the viaduct - and raise it by 4ft 7ins - can begin after the town's jazz festival at the end of June.

Councillor Bob Bullock, Upton's representative at County Hall, welcomed the £2.5m plans but described the project as being the "halfway stage" towards raising the whole road to protect against flooding.

"The viaduct is going up a metre and a half, and that's very good, but later on we will have to address raising that road," he said.

But Coun Alwyn Davies said the bigger project - which would see around 930 yards of road raised at a cost of £6m to £7m - was only one of many to be considered across the county.

Major works

"In the next section of the local transport plan we need to look at major infrastructure works and clearly this is one of the options," he explained.

"We are allowed only one big scheme. It's in the melting pot to be considered along with the others - we need to look at what's best for the county."

Coun Bullock also praised officers who were applauded by around 120 residents, following a presentation on the bridge in Upton a fortnight ago.