A YEAR after his mother-in-law fell from a flooded footbridge in Bridestowe and drowned in the River Lew, Chris Watson has replaced the structure with 'something far better' at the cost of £7,500.

Mr Watson is hoping that the local authorities will contribute to the cost of the bridge which leads to his house at Quarry Lane, because it is a public right of way and frequently used by walkers and horseriders.

An inquest in Okehampton in December heard that Sheila Metcalfe, 67, was crossing the bridge, which was made out of railway sleepers, when she apparently lost her footing and fell into the river.

Mr Watson raised his concerns about the bridge at the time saying it should have a new surface, be widened and have a handrail fitted.

He said the bridge, was the only access to two properties and a quarry, and was not wide enough for emergency vehicles.

Mr Watson decided to set about replacing the structure himself after he said enquiries to get the authorities to 'help sort out the problem' failed.

It was his opinion that although he owned the bridge Devon County Council should have some responsibility for it because it was on a public bridleway.

The authority had contributed to the wooden footbridge when the previous one had been washed away in a flood and the tenants of the house at the time purchased the materials, he said.

Mr Watson said he had carried out the work on the new structure and employed two contractors to help him.

He said the foundations had been built into the bank instead of on the face of the bank and the bridge had been made from concrete, timber and steel.

'It is 1.6 metres wider than before with guard rails embedded into the concrete and built to last,' he said.

He added that the design of the structure would help to alleviate flash flooding which occurred in that area.

Contributions had been made by his neighbours and the Devon Wildlife Trust but Mr Watson is making appeals to Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and the Environment Agency.

Bridge manager for Devon County Council Colin Hatherley said: 'This is a privately owned bridge and the county council's position is that we would not wish to contribute towards the cost because we feel that the original bridge was adequate for the purposes we require which is a bridleway.'

He added that a rail had been put up by the county council on one side to mark the end of the bridge which was what the coroner requested but it was not a hand-rail.