VITAL safety work is set to be carried out at the York railway bridge where a van skidded off the road and blocked the lines, council transport chiefs revealed today.

The accident, at Red Lion Bridge on the A59 in January, was seen as eerily reminiscent of the early stages of the Great Heck rail tragedy on the East Coast main line.

The ten rail bridges in the City of York Council area have undergone major assessment since the Great Heck tragedy, to check how easily a vehicle could get on to the lines.

The ten bridges were each given a score, with those scoring more than 70 points deemed to be in need of repair work.

Red Lion Bridge scored 78. Inspections after the crash found the timber supports to the bridge's approach barriers were partly rotten and did not properly support the barrier.

Transport chiefs will on Wednesday be asked to approve repair work costing at least £98,000 to Copmanthorpe Bridge, Moor Lane Bridge, Severus Bridge and Red Lion Bridge.

Copmanthorpe Bridge was the highest scorer, with 101. It is on an 'S' bend over the East Coast main line, and inspectors found only a timber post and rail fence on the bridge approach.

It has been recommended that safety be beefed up with a 30 metre safety barrier, "slow" road markings and extra warning signs.

Moor Lane Bridge scored 88 and Severus Bridge 82. Fencing at both bridges was deemed "not to comply with any standard."

Inspectors have recommended that new 30 metre barriers be installed at both bridges.

The repair work costs will be shared equally between City of York Council and Network Rail.

A Network Rail spokesman said today: "We will pay for half the work that is carried out. The survey highlighted the problems of vehicles getting on to the lines, so any work to improve safety we would welcome and conform to."

The proposals will be discussed by city council executive member for planning and transport Ann Reid on July 2, at 5pm, at The Guildhall.

The Great Heck crash was caused when a Land Rover, driven by Gary Hart, left the road and blocked the East Coast main line. Hart is currently serving five years in prison for causing the tragedy.

Updated: 14:16 Wednesday, June 25, 2003