Lendal bridge could be closed to traffic permanently as a radical solution to York's congestion problems.

Its present temporary closure for renovation work has eased major problems almost overnight, said Bill Woolley, City of York Council's assistant director of development and transport.

But any proposal to close it to all but public transport, cyclists and pedestrians would be an extreme measure which would only be done following public consultation, he said.

"I can see immediate benefits since the bridge has been closed," he said.

"In Gillygate and Bootham, there is much less congestion, which has previously been a very difficult problem to solve.

"It has become much more pleasant around St Leonard's Place and I have been getting a lot of positive feedback since it was closed, and very little negative."

He said Lendal Bridge will certainly reopen after the renovation work is completed, timetabled for two to four weeks.

But a study is being carried out across the city to see what the effect on its closure has been.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, the council's deputy spokesman for transport and planning, said: "This closure has left us with a cleaner, better city centre."