RUBBISH and the sale of council houses has saved people in Dorchester from having to raise £24,000 to rebuild a collapsed bridge.

The money has come from the ARC environment fund from landfill tax money and from South Oxfordshire District Council's community trust fund set up from the sale of council houses.

That will pay for the whole operation due to start next week.

The centre, part of the bridge on the farm track and footpath over the River Thame, was washed away.

That cut off public access from Dorchester to the Hurst water meadow, a 25-acre island of which 18 acres is open to the public for walks, conservation and general enjoyment.

The Hurst Meadow Trust, with the backing of Oxfordshire County Council, made temporary repairs which reopened the bridge to foot traffic and limited farm traffic.

But now work is due to start on a new bridge over the river.

Dr Peter Pritchard, a trustee of the Hurst meadow, said: "We are very grateful for the money."

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