Cumberland had dozens of bridges unfit for the heaviest vehicles on its roads last year, new figures show.

Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, which carried out the analysis, expressed concerns over the impact of severe weather and a shortage of engineering skills.

Figures obtained by the organisation through freedom of information requests show there were 33 substandard bridges in Cumberland at the end of 2023. These bridges cannot carry the largest 44-tonne lorries allowed on the nation’s roads.

They accounted for 4 per cent of the 752 bridges in the area.

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Some were substandard because they were built to earlier design standards, while others have deteriorated through age and use.

Devon was the local authority area with the most substandard bridges at 222.

Darren Rodwell, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said councils want to do all they can to maintain local highway infrastructure.

He added: "Despite their best efforts, funding constraints limit the amount that councils can do in fulfilling these duties.

"Long-term, consistent funding for all councils would provide certainty for them to properly plan ahead and focus on preventative measures, to make all of our local highways infrastructure more resilient."