A BRIDGE over a beck in a York village has been re-built and named after a lifelong resident who played a key role in village life.

A short ceremony was conducted by the Reverend Andrew Clements in Osbaldwick to formally open ‘Bycroft’s Bridge,’ which is dedicated to the memory of the founding father of Osbaldwick Sports Club, John Bycroft.

“A number of relatives and residents braved the rain to unveil a plaque on the bridge to mark the opening and dedication,” said parish chairman Mark Warters, who said Mr Bycroft passed away recently when the work had just started.

He said two bridges were being rebuilt, which were used by residents living on the opposite side of the beck to access properties with vehicles and by all residents to get to part of the village green.

He said the council had purchased the green from a long term private owner and the bridges were surveyed once it took over ownership to get liability cover.

“We were told by the surveyors that the western bridge had to be closed off to vehicular traffic immediately, which it duly was,” he said.

“The works are being funded by the Public Works Loan Board to the council over a 50-year term, so that future parishioners who will gain the benefit contribute rather than the council simply raising the parish precept by a large amount and current parishioners having to fund the works - this was thought to be the fairest way.”

He expected the bill for the first bridge project would be close to £20,000 with the second costing less.

He said there had been some ‘good old fashioned craftsmanship’ by L & K Warcup Construction Ltd, who had carried out work to a very high standard in creating an exact replica of the original bridge, taken from a 1922 photo.