Malton county councillor Mike Knaggs has tracked down the missing Grade II listed railings taken away without permission from a bridge under repair in Malton.

The fear was that the 130-year-old historic relics of the age of steam could have gone for scrap. Shortly after they were removed from the listed bridge in Railway Street during repairs metal items were seen being loaded on to a local scrap dealer's lorry.

Coun Knaggs asked Mike Moore, director of environmental services at County Hall, where the railings were being stored.

After a few inquiries and two phone calls, Mr Moore was able to confirm to Coun Knaggs that he could positively guarantee the railings were in storage at Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

It was Coun David Lloyd-Williams, Mayor of Malton, who complained the railings were missing.

Mike Moore said at first he would not put them back because they were not strong enough to restrain a car and they would be used somewhere else in the county on a footbridge.

Later, Mr Moore had to admit the railings should not have been removed without permission because they were listed items - a fact overlooked at the time by the county council.

"I support Coun Lloyd-Williams on this one," said Coun Knaggs. "These railings belong to Malton. It was a waste of money when the county council is strapped for cash and the environmental side is being cut back."

Paul Simpson, of Ryedale District Council, said there had now been a preliminary meeting with county council officials to discuss the return of the railings.

He believed the county council would be applying for retrospective planning permission for the alterations to the bridge and he was hopeful the original railings would be replaced.

"It's in the hands of the county council," he said. "Now they are aware the railings were listed they are more inclined to replace them."

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