DRIVERS will be spared yet more roadworks this autumn after repairs to a historic Oxford bridge were delayed by the discovery of bats.

Folly Bridge, a major thoroughfare for traffic coming from the south of the city, was set to undergo stonework repairs and road resurfacing in the autumn.

But transport bosses say they will now have to do further surveys after bats – thought to be Daubenton’s bats – were found nesting in one of the bridge's arches.

According to the Bat Conservation Trust, Daubenton’s bats are usually found in humid sites near water, including tunnels or bridges over canals and rivers.

They feed on small flies and can take insects from close to the water at speeds of up to 25kmph, with some even seen scooping up their prey directly from the surface using their large feet or tail membrane.

The discovery of winged mammals meant work was likely to be delayed until next year, a spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said yesterday.

Martin Crabtree added: "We are now required to carry out surveys in order to secure a licence to do any work.

"The work then has to be programmed in a way that meets criteria relating to bats and their habitat.

"In the meantime we will be monitoring the bridge and road surface."

The spokesman said it was "too early to say" if road closures during the daytime would be necessary for the work.

Built between 1825 and 1827, the Grade II-listed Folly Bridge is known as the starting point of the boating trip taken by Lewis Carroll which inspired Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Recent tests carried out have shown its main three-span section to the north is in reasonable condition but the single span, 30 metres south, requires stonework repairs to its arch barrel.

The county council also plans to resurface about 80 metres of carriageway over the bridge.

But because some of stonework repairs need to be done from above, the council has said these will be done before it resurfaces the bridge.

The delay is likely to come as a relief to drivers. Roadworks at the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts are due to continue until mid-October, with speed restrictions also still in place on the Eastern Bypass at the Cowley Interchange due to work by Thames Water.

Meanwhile, in the south of the county, works are ongoing at the Chilton Interchange.

It will add north-facing slip roads to the A34 junction and is expected to finish this summer.

The project was launched to help meet expected demand in the future for the area, where 14,000 homes and 16,000 jobs are expected by 2029, the county council said.