AN MS has urgently asked the Welsh Government to look into funding options to replace a bridge.

In January, Storm Christoph destroyed Llanerch Bridge which was located between Trefnant and Tremeirchion.

Speaking to the deputy minister for climate change in the Senedd Chamber, Gareth Davies, MS for Vale of Clwyd, said he felt it was "unacceptable when the Welsh Government informed the communities that there were no monies to replace the bridge, meaning that residents of Trefnant, going Westbound on the A55, have to take a two to three mile detour in order to get home, thus causing more pollution to the environment.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Davies said: "It is vital that the Welsh Government listens to the needs of residents and it's important that we reconnect the rural communities of the Vale of Clwyd who depend on such links every single day.

"There has been a bridge in place at Llanerch since the 19th Century which is a staple of the community so I urge the Welsh Government to look at all possible funding options, to work closely with Denbighshire County Council, residents of the community and elected members to find a sustainable solution to the Llanerch Bridge issue, which will benefit the community and be environmentally friendly.”

The bridge had been a popular route for cyclists and is a listed building looked after by CADW - the Welsh Government's historic environment service.

In January, Denbighshire Council said they predicted that it could be a year and a half until the bridge is fully repaired.

Dewi Davies, Tremeirchion community councillor, said at the time that he believed that 18 months was an "ambitious' target".

"The bridge has taken a few knocks over the years, so you have to question whether those sort of incidents may have contribute to it collapsing," he said.