STRUCTURAL damage in underwater piping and bridge foundations will now be more easily detected after the county council splashed out on an £18,000 mini submarine.

Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) is the first local authority in the country to use the specially designed new technology, which is equipped with three cameras and can be used in a number of conditions including dry stony river beds and mud.

The mini sub can also dive into shallow water to help examine bridge structures and piping.

Throughout the year BCC regularly inspects more than 600 structures.

Divers have often been used in the past to help examine the bridges, but many have a small amount of space to work in which can cause dangers for workers.

Tim Rackham, senior bridge inspector who has worked at BCC for more than ten years, says the new mini sub will produce a better standard of images as well as being more cost effective.

Tim added: "The new sub is very similar to a remote control car in the way it operates and it is a very useful tool.

"Some of our bridges have very limited space for divers and by using this new technology it will allow us to go into areas that divers may not be able to very easily."

Tim also said that some bridges in the county were more than 500 years old and often had debris or broken glass on the river bed, causing hidden dangers for the divers.

The mini sub is already in operation and has a screen for observation and a data recording system.

Other features include two pairs of parallel laser pointers to accurately measure defects, a manipulator to remove trapped debris, and an on board compass and depth gauge.

The Cabinet Member for Transportation, Val Letheren, said: "As well as addressing the safety issues concerned with inspecting these types of bridges, it is also proving to be quicker, cheaper and more accurate than a manned inspection."