The council said “unacceptable delays” to the £5m+ restoration job were behind the decision.

Spencer started on site in February 2023 with work originally scheduled to finish this summer.

The council is now going out to tender for a new firm to finish the final stages of the refurbishment.

It said: “The council now believes that, in order to ensure the bridge is open in the quickest and most efficient way possible, it is time to go out to the market again for the remainder of the work.”

Portfolio Holder for Highways, Cllr Stewart Swinburn said: “This project was started two years ago and whilst we accept that the level of rust and deterioration was not anticipated, and led initially to more surveys being required, we are now in a position where we believe the extent of the delays are unacceptable. This means we have decided to seek a new contractor.

“We are now absolutely determined to move forward and bring a new specialist engineering firm on board to work with us on completing the lifting span, bringing to a conclusion the works to this fantastic historical structure.”