Update 21 December: Overnight road closures planned for Shaldon Bridge have been postponed until next year.

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Shaldon Bridge will close to vehicles for "essential" repairs to one of its columns on two nights before Christmas, Devon County Council has announced.

The closures could take place on any two nights between Tuesday 20 December and Friday 23 December from 6.30pm to 7am. Pedestrians will still be able to use the bridge.

A lane closure has been in place on Shaldon Bridge over the past month as a precaution after scour erosion was found at the base of four of the bridge columns.

The work is reportedly needed to fit a protective "collar" around one column in most urgent need of repair to backfill it with concrete.

As the repair involves working in water, the timing of the work is dependent on weather conditions and tides and will be decided nearer the time.

The remaining columns will be repaired in the new year.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: "Dive inspections over the last few weeks have found that these repairs need to be carried out as a matter of urgency. The teams working on this will have a window of seven evenings depending on weather and tide conditions, but they'll only need a closure for two nights. Every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum."

Councillor Alistair Dewhirst, County Councillor representing Shaldon, said: "We are really sorry that this problem has occurred now, just before Christmas. Devon's Engineers have been working in freezing conditions and with frightening currents to maintain regular inspections of the bridge below water level. Everyone understands that safety comes first and this column clearly must be made safe as soon as possible.

"Due to tidal and working conditions the work has to start at 6:30pm – we understand that this is very inconvenient but pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the bridge closure. It is very unfortunate that a closure for two nights is needed but we can all be assured that Devon's Bridge Engineers will be working flat out to get the job done as quickly as possible."

During the closure of Shaldon Bridge, the diversion route will be A379, B3199, A3022, A380, A381 and vice versa.