West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today confirmed that she has spoken to the army after the ancient bridge collapsed into the river Teme at Eastham. Harriett met with the community on Friday (May 27) and has, this weekend, been working on ways to help get rapid assistance to the community. Local villagers have reported that a temporary Bailey bridge was sited just yards from the current river crossing during the Second World War and Harriett has discussed potential solutions with the local army representatives. Following a visit by Worcestershire County Council highways manager, Jon Fraser, to the site on Friday, chief executive Clare Marchant has appointed a project manager to lead the county's response to the incident. Harriett commented: "Having spoken to the villagers, it is clear that they want a short-term solution to minimise the impact of the bridge collapse on the village, while the county council investigates the collapse and decides on a long-term solution. "Clearly the army doesn't just deploy without a strict protocol, which in this case puts the Worcestershire County Council in charge of requesting their help. "The army and the council are now in touch and I will ask the county to see if the army can come and do a rapid recce of the situation."