THE majority of railway bridges carrying minor roads in Hampshire have inadequate safety fences and substandard parapets, and the cost of improving their safety could run into millions of pounds.

That is the conclusion of a report to be presented to county councillors next week, after a preliminary assessment of the situation in the county in the wake of the Selby train crash, when 10 people died.

The report, by county surveyor John Ekins, says a preliminary risk assessment was undertaken of bridges on roads for which the county is responsible, which excludes motorways and trunk roads. He said: "The majority of bridges carrying county roads have no approach or trailing safety fences and have substandard parapets."

There are three reasons for this, says the surveyor. Vehicle containment standards were not introduced until 1967, these standards, especially for bridges over railways, have since been increased and some pre-1994 parapets are substandard due to a manufacturer's design fault.

He adds that other lengths of county roads adjacent to hazards, particularly railways, also have non-existent or sub-standard containment.

Although it is difficult to estimate at this stage the cost of remedial work to improve the safety of bridges, "it could quite easily amount to several million pounds," he says - with the Government so far remaining silent about providing additional funding.

The report will be presented tomorrow to the county's environment policy review committee, when members will be asked to approve an action plan which includes a prioritisation and risk assessment of all vulnerable railway locations.

Studies as to what measures should then be taken, and extra money sought from the Government.