A WEIGHT limit is being imposed on Leyland Railway Station bridge, Station Brow, as Railtrack carries out work.

Centurion Way and Wheelton Lane should be used as a diversion for vehicles exceeding 17 tonnes.

This restriction will not affect local bus services.

The decision to impose the limit was made for safety reasons following a meeting between the County Council, Railtrack, South Ribble Borough Council and the police.

Railtrack will be treating the bridge as a priority in its strengthening programme but the work is unlikely to be done before the end of 2004.

This is because detailed structural designs have to be drawn up and any essential services such as gas, water and electricity which pass over the bridge have to be diverted.

As well as this, time has to be found to turn off the electricity which supplies express trains on the busy West Coast Main Line so that the work can be carried out safely.