Road bridge chiefs scrap insurance

BOSSES at the Forth Road Bridge have agreed not to insure the ageing structure, saying the money could be better spent elsewhere.

In recent years more than 100,000 has been spent insuring the bridge annually against the risk of being hit by a ship.

But Barry Colford, the crossing's chief engineer and bridgemaster, said the construction of pier defences and the abolition of tolls had "minimised" the risk to the bridge.

"We therefore concluded that the premium of over 100,000 could be better spent elsewhere on the bridge, particularly at a time of financial restrictions."