Concerned residents have raised concerns over the condition of a “dangerous” bridge, used by hundreds of people each day.

Users say the footbridge at Deal railway station is rusting, unsafe and in need of urgent upgrades, with claims one woman was hurt on it earlier this year.

Owners Network Rail say a full renewal of the structure is planned in four years time, but for now say it is safe.

Steve Tasker, from Deal, uses the station to travel to London or go to the coast at places such as Ramsgate.

The retired university lecturer said: “I'm really concerned that perhaps fundamentally, on health and safety, that the steps are unsafe.

“There are gaps between the steps so your foot can go between them, and you can do yourself a rather nasty injury.”

He says he learned that one woman in her 60s was injured on the steps earlier this year and ended up in hospital. Network Rail had no record of this.

Mr Tasker added: “It's rusting, it hasn't been painted for years. It has no roof on the stairs or the actual bridge over the tracks, so it's in a fairly poor condition.

“It’s solid enough underfoot but you don’t feel particularly safe and if it’s raining you’re in a most vulnerable position.

“This is not a bridge in a country area; it’s used by hundreds of people every day as one of the main walks from the station into the centre of Deal.”

Jean Tromans, of Deal, also told KentOnline: “There are gaps in it and the slats are not wide enough to put your feet on.

“You need to hold on coming down and it’s steep. It is quite dangerous.”

However, other station users did feel safe with the bridge.

Lesley Ashby, of Deal, uses it three times a week when she goes shopping

She said: “I’m getting on a bit with age. But normally I hold the shopping with one hand and the handrail with the other so I feel fairly safe.”

Mathew Easton, of Deal, commented that he read the bridge had survived an air raid during the Second World War.

He said: “I think it needs a lick of paint and a bit of TLC but it’s solid and I don’t think it’s dangerous at all. They just need to look after it a little better.”

Vicki Smith, of Dover, added: “I’ve travelled across it many times and it’s never even occurred to me it's unsafe. I don’t understand what's unsafe about it.”

Mr Tasker took up his concerns with Dover and Deal MP Mike Tapp who took up the matter with Network Rail.

A spokesman for the government-owned company said: “Safety is our priority, and so we take any concerns raised seriously.

“However, we can confirm that no recent accidents relating to the footbridge have been reported to Network Rail or to Southeastern as the train operating company which manages Deal station on a day-to-day basis.

“The bridge receives an inspection every year, including of the steps, with suitable mitigations taken forward through the maintenance programme.

“The full renewal of the footbridge structure is part of our investment plan, with the work currently scheduled to take place in 2028/29. “

Network Rail is the owner and infrastructure manager of most of this country’s railway network.