More than 3,200 UK bridges need repair, local authorities say

Cost of 1.2bn means only a few hundred likely to be fixed in next five years

An increasing number of Britain's road bridges are crumbling, with more than 3,200 identified as being substandard with a 1.2bn repair cost, local authorities say.

In the past year, more than 100 council-maintained bridges have been declared unfit for the heaviest vehicles, according to research by the RAC Foundation, with 17 bridges collapsing entirely and 37 partially in that time.