The town council has now voted to halt the project. The Back the Bridge campaign called the decision a " sad day for the safety and future prosperity of our town".

The bridge, which has been designed by Mark Lovell Design Engineers, had proposed by the town council and approved at county level but has proved controversial locally. Two campaigns, Back the Bridge and Bradford Bridge Concern took opposing stances on the proposals and Wiltshire County Council is organising the poll.

Of 4,487 residents eligible to vote, 2,753 took part in the referendum - a 61.4% turnout.

The go-ahead for the referendum was given last year