British Waterways, the company carrying out repairs on the 100-year-old bridge, says the delay should not last for more than six or seven days.

Spokesman Guy Lawson explained: "The problem involves the town-centre end of the bridge, or the nose.

"The nose has twisted slightly during the 'big lifts' in and out of the river."

According to Mr Lawson, the bending of the nose meant that the bridge couldn't match up to the shoreline at the Bull Ring end.

The solution was simple - engineers set to work on Friday to shave off part of the nose.

"We're talking about an infintesimal section of the eastern end of the bridge," Mr Lawson added.

"But it needed to be done, otherwise the bridge would not fit correctly."

He said the damage posed no long-term danger to the bridge.

"It has been a recurrent problem in the refurbishment that the Victorians who built the bridge didn't make detailed plans of it," he added.

"We simply had no idea of what the metal tolerances were before."

Town traders are unimpressed with the explanation. For them, it caps six months of delays and postponements.

Tricia Friar, of Muchkins Childrenswear, said: "I don't see how it's possible to miscalculate this project on the scale

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