[bbfan1991]

Two brothers from Pennsylvania have been accused of stealing a 50ft suspension bridge.

Benjamin Arthur Jones and Alexander Williams Jones allegedly used a blowtorch to break up the steel structure and sold the resulting 15.5 tons of scrap metal for $5,000 (£3,100).

"I couldn't believe it," said Gary Bruce of New Castle Development, which owns the bridge. "It's a lot of work."

The pair now face felony charges of criminal mischief, theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. They are believed to have deconstructed the bridge late in September or earlier this month.

It is claimed that Alexander Jones told a recycling company that he had permission to cut up the bridge for scrap metal, but employees instead contacted police.

The bridge was located in a wooded area about 60 miles away from Pittsburgh. It cost approximately $100,000 (£63,000) to build.