Plans to electrify a swing bridge at one of the main gateways to Norfolk have been given the go-ahead - after dire warnings over disruption if it breaks down.

Lincolnshire County Council has approved the £1.6m upgrade for the Cross Keys Swing Bridge close to the county border at Sutton Bridge.

A spokesman said funds had been allocated for the project and design work on the new system was now under way.

The bridge, built in 1897, carries the main A17 across the tidal River Nene and pivots to allow shipping to pass to and from the Port of Wisbech.

Officials originally planned an overhaul of the hydraulic machinery which powers the structure but a report warned its "ageing elements" could still fail.

"Its failure to operate would cause major disruption to road and river traffic, which would have significant local, regional and potentially national consequences," it went on.

"The latter would be due to the A17 over it being a key route for the agri-food industry based in Lincolnshire and Norfolk."

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Despite the installation costs, electric motors will be cheaper to operate and reduce wear and tear on the structure, leading to "an overall longer life and improved preservation of the historic asset".

The Grade II listed bridge was built in 1897 at a cost of £80,000 to carry both the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway and a road across the Nene.

Since the railway closed in 1965, it has carried the main road between Norfolk, Lincolnshire and the north.

While drivers face tailbacks on the A17 when the bridge opens to allow boats to pass, they face diversions when one or both carriageways are closed for maintenance.

The next nearest river crossing is at Wisbech, meaning a 10-mile diversion.