A bridge threatened with demolition is at the centre of a protest by residents.

Users of Hundred Acre Bridge, the irrigation railway bridge on the footpath from Beddington Park to Mitcham Common, are campaigning against its threatened demolition by Network Rail.

The rail company sent contractors to the site to block both ends of the footpath, but when residents realised the footbridge would be inaccessible, about 20 people protested.

Marianne Rasmussen of Helios Road, Hackbridge, who regularly uses the footbridge, said: "Network Rail have repeatedly put wire mesh up to stop people using the footpath, but it gets cut through.

"This time they were welding metal plates to make it more permanent. We shouted at them to stop but they didn’t, so a woman unplugged the welding torch."

There are two other footbridges linking Beddington Park to Mitcham Junction.

Hundred Acre Bridge serves the footpath to Beddington Lane and Mile Road bridge, leading directly from Hackbridge centre. The metal footbridge has been temporarily closed for maintenance.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The bridge is not a public right of way and as part of our responsibility to get best value we propose demolishing it. Blocking the route is the first stage and we have placed notices on the bridge to inform people of our plans.”

A public meeting will be held on April 5, at 7pm at Bedzed Pavilion. MP Tom Brake, Steve Shew of Sutton Council and Bruce Canning from Network Rail have been invited.