North Yorkshire Council's contractors have visited Helmsley to recover the stones that had fallen into the watercourse.

The stones, which were part of the parapet of the bridge that connects Market Place and Castlegate, will undergo inspection and assessment.

Helmsley's North Yorkshire Councillor, George Jabbour, said: "As soon as our town’s iconic bridge was damaged, I worked with Council officers to ensure that this matter is resolved as quickly as possible.

"The stones have now been lifted from the beck and taken to the Council's depot to be stored to dry out.

"Inspection will be carried out to assess whether the stones could be used again and for the repairs to be completed at the earliest opportunity.

"However, if the stones cannot be re-used, replacements have to be sourced, which could cause delays."