MOTORISTS flouting a ban on using a weak town centre bridge are causing congestion and jeopardising its safety.

Concerns about the strength of Newport Street bridge forced council highways experts to close it at the end of May except to buses and black cabs.

But more than a month later drivers are still ignoring warning signs at the entrance to the bridge.

A BEN survey conducted between 8.45am and 9.05pm logged 37 drivers - including one lorry - breaking the rules.

Some motorists even continued on to the bridge after angry bus drivers had drawn their attention to the signs.

One senior council officer said repeated breaches of the safety restrictions are causing concern at the town hall.

Taxi and bus drivers are also infuriated that tailbacks to Great Moor Street have not been reduced since the bridge closure.

But it is understood the police feel they are unable to enforce the ban on ordinary traffic until signposting is improved. From Page 1 Jeff Layer, the council's assistant director for highways and engineering, said: "We are concerned that motorists are ignoring these signs and we are going to look at how to reinforce the signing.

"We will speak to the police to ask them if they will start enforcing the driving prohibition.

"The restrictions are there for public safety. What we don't want to see is a situation where the bridge is put at risk as a result of misuse. It is in the interests of drivers to heed these signs."

The constant stream of traffic from Great Moor Street along Newport Street makes it difficult for black cabs parked in the taxi rank in front of Bolton Bus Interchange to pull out.

Cabbie Keith Southern, of Harrowby Court, Farnworth, said he has run out of patience.

He said: "I passed my driving test in 1973 and since then they have obviously changed the Highway Code without informing me.

"The majority of the town's motorists don't understand the signs or are in sheer ignorance of them.

"I will not give way to any other vehicles choosing to ignore these road signs. I don't think any insurance company would pay out for the repair of a vehicle which had been driven through clear No Entry signs."

The council also plans to speak to bus companies to voice concern that some of their drivers are failing to heed warnings not to queue in a hatched area marked on the bridge.

A police spokesman said: "We will continue to monitor the situation."

Newport Street bridge is one of a series of Railtrack-owned road bridges around town where restrictions are in force because of fears they could be too weak.

Railtrack have warned Bolton Council it will be up to four years before they can afford to pay for strengthening work but the authority and Bolton's MPs are lobbying the Government for help.