Oxford's historic railway swing bridge is being considered for a £200,000 restoration project by the Oxford Preservation Trust.

The trust, which this year restored the Martyrs' Memorial for its 75th anniversary, has commissioned a feasibility study with a view to restoring the bridge, just north of Oxford station, which has fallen into disrepair.

It was built in 1850 on the approach to the old Rewley Road station.

Designed to swing open to allow boats passage it operated until 1985, when tracks north of the bridge were removed.

Residents living near the 85-ton bridge, off Rewley Road, said last week that they feared the structure would be threatened by the proposed the Guided Transit Express (GTE) busway.

But Debbie Dance, chairman of the preservation trust, said the GTE's board of directors, of which she is a member, were aware of the trust's plans.

She said: "The bridge helps to tell the story of the Victorian railway in Oxford and we would like to restore it, so that we could swing it on a number of occasions a year.

"A feasibility study has been funded by the Railway Heritage Trust. We're hoping for as much financial support as possible."

Mrs Dance said she hoped that the GTE route would be able to squeeze between the swing bridge and the adjacent railway tracks.

Jim Cornell, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: "The bridge is an important piece of heritage in Oxford.

"The question now is which model of the bridge the restoration should follow."

Mr Cornell said an interpretation centre could also be set up nearby to inform visitors about the bridge.