FOUR teenagers questioned over the ongoing vandalism of a £10 million bridge have been released without charge because of a lack of evidence.

Three boys aged 13 and 1,5 and a 14-year-old girl were all questioned over graffiti on the bridge but released despite the presence of CCTV cameras on Adur Ferry Bridge.

The £10 million structure has been regularly targeted by vandals with taxpayers having to foot repair bills in the tens of thousands.

Politicians are now calling for improved CCTV and education to stop the bridge from becoming a "focal point for vandalism".

West Sussex County Council is waiting to find out the full cost of replacing 13 glass panels that have been smashed in recent weeks.

Councillors had warned that the cost had doubled from previous replacement programmes – a claim dismissed by West Sussex County Council.

Nevertheless the cost to taxpayers is estimated to be a minimum of £20,000.

The news comes as plans to complete the final part of the project is set to begin three years after the walkway was officially opened.

Plans to spruce up the area at the southern end of the crossing on Shoreham Beach have remained on ice for nearly three years because arguments over consultations, a handful of parking pays and the classification of a causeway.

A public meeting held earlier this month was told Adur District Council expects work to start within six months.

The £250,000 project is being led by Adur District Council in partnership with West Sussex County Council with councillors from both authorities clashing over who was to blame for the delays.

West Sussex representatives claimed that the consultation over parking bays and a pedestrian crossing had not been completed properly, leading to objections being submitted at late notice.

But Adur leaders said West Sussex had delayed key paperwork regarding parking bays with former district councillor Liza McKinney claiming the delay in running the consultation had cost £37,000.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton told the meeting that there needed to be better CCTV and education around the bridge.

He said: “The last thing we want is that fantastic bridge to be focal point for vandalism.”

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said school visits regarding vandalism on the bridge were discussed last month and will be again in September.

He said the authority was waiting for Balfour Beatty to obtain a quote to replace the 13 panels.

He added: "At this stage we don’t know what the price per panel will be so the figure quoted in the meeting of £2,000 is misleading.

"The anticipated increase will be a result of the delivery, installation and disposal costs that were not included in the original cost of £1,000 per panel.

"We are looking at options to increase CCTV surveillance on the bridge to help capture evidence."