A FOUR-MONTH ordeal has ended for villagers in South and North Moreton with the reopening of the bridge connecting the villages.

The railway bridge in South Moreton had been closed since December, as Network Rail raised its height for freight trains to travel from Southampton to Nuneaton.

Pedestrians and cyclists were forced to take long detours across muddy fields.

Parish council clerk Roger Templeman said: “There is still no appreciation that it is not just South Moreton that has been inconvenienced — public transport to all the neighbouring parishes was made unreliable for commuters, and local businesses were affected.

“Cyclists and pedestrians trying to get to the supermarket, school or work have experienced a nightmare, especially during the bad weather, and the way inconvenience payments were made to residents neighbouring the site seemed arbitrary and caused a lot of resentment.”

Caroline and Melvin Vaughan, of North Moreton, who do not drive, said they had been getting up at 5.30am every day to escort their daughter to work along dark, isolated tracks.

Mrs Vaughan, 48, said: “My son is on his third bike since the work started.

“When it was snowing, it was really bad.

“When I went up to the bridge this morning, I realised something was missing — my wellies. I have been living in them.”

Local residents had to fight for more than two months before Network Rail laid on a shuttle bus service between the two villages.

Dr Templeman said: “The whole matter has made me so cross — so much time wasted only to achieve a few concessions, and I feel nobody will actually have learned anything from their failings.”

The new bridge has far higher sides than its predecessor, with a wider road surface and footpaths for pedestrians.

The closest neighbour, 88-year-old Eileen Hutchings, said despite her annoyance about levels of compensation paid for putting up with demolition work over Christmas, the workmen had been very good.

She said: “They had a very good attitude, were always polite, and I never heard any swearing. They were always as quiet as possible.”

County councillor Rodney Rose said: “I am very pleased this bridge is being reopened after several months of great inconvenience to local people and businesses, but I welcome the fact the bridge is now wider and safer, with a new footpath.”

Network Rail spokesman Russell Spink said: “We thank the residents of both South and North Moreton for their patience while this vital upgrade was carried out. It is part of a much larger project to upgrade the railway between Southamp-ton and the West Midlands which will help take up to 50,000 lorries a year from the region’s roads, making a valuable contribution to the economy and helping Britain compete better in the global marketplace.”