Motorcycles and horses could be officially banned from a £10 million bridge.

Concerns the Adur Ferry Bridge between Shoreham and Shoreham Beach could be used as a short cut for motorcyclists – and an incident when a horse was ridden over it – has led to West Sussex County Council applying for a traffic order.

Officers said the bridge was never intended to be used by equestrians or motorcyclists who would be putting themselves, and legal bridge users, in danger and risk damaging the bridge.

A second traffic order has also been submitted for roads around the bridge, which opened in November last year, as part of a regeneration of the area.

The order will ban vehicles from driving on a section of Lower Beach Road, which will no longer be in use following re-alignment of its junction with Riverside Road, and from driving in the service road outside the shops in Ferry Road, which could be pedestrianised.

Residents have until October 2 to comment on the proposals by visiting the traffic regulation orders section of www.westsussex.gov.uk.