FIRE crews have managed to get a fire on Barmouth bridge under control, seven hours after it was first reported.The iconic bridge was closed at 6am when a fire was first reported.A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed that at 1pm, the three teams of firefighters, from Barmouth, Harlech and Tywyn, withdrew from the bridge but left their equipment on-site.The Fire crews will return at 3pm to ensure the area is safe.The cause of the blaze is not yet known.A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Emergency services remain at the scene, and engineers are on site awaiting to assess the structure.

"The line between Tywyn and Barmouth is currently closed, with a bus replacement service in operation.

"The line will remain closed until an assessment can take place.”

Describing the scene, David Brown, of Bryn Melyn Guest House which overlooks the bridge, said: "There’s currently a dozen or so people in hi-viz walking around the bridge and there’s a few fire engines parked near us by the start of the footpath.

"From what I can see there’s no major incident and I can’t see any flames."

A Barmouth RNLI lifeboat is currently out performing safety cover for workers on the bridge.