The recent severe weather has prompted Aberdeenshire Council to close the grade A listed landmark after cracks appeared in the 193-year-old Bridge of Keig.

The council said the bridge would remain closed to all traffic, including emergency services vehicles, until further notice. Diversion signs have been put in place at nearby junctions.

A council spokesman said that the extent was still being assessed but it is thought the bridge has sustained damage by freeze-and-thawing to the area above its arch, causing bulging of the side walls and cracks in the road surface.

A spokesman from Historic Scotland said some structural movement had been detected in the bridge and ways of stabilising the structure were being looked at with council engineers.

Barricades have now been erected across the B992 Whitehouse-Keig road on both sides of the bridge, which provides a popular shortcut to traffic as well as a scenic local walk. Local residents have been warned to keep away from the bridge.

The 101ft bridge was designed by renowned architect Thomas Telford and built in 1817 by local mason William Minto. It is one of the longest single-span granite structures in Scotland.

Local road users, including school buses, are now having to use a detour via Montgarrie Bridge several miles upstream. It was rebuilt by Aberdeenshire Council two years ago at a cost of £733,000 after fears for its safety.