Missing: one 185m-long bridge, grey stone, three arches, last seen over the Thames between Chiswick and Mortlake.

Users of Google Maps were left scratching their heads when Chiswick Bridge bizarrely disappeared from view over the weekend.

The Grade II-listed crossing was eventually restored by the search engine giant on Monday (March 16) but only after its strange vanishing act was pointed out by BBC travel reporter, Rob Oxley.

He tweeted Google on Monday to report that the bridge was missing.

Anyone relying on Google Maps for directions could have faced a lengthy detour, as they were being directed via Kew Bridge, resulting in a round trip of more than four miles just to cross the river.

Chiswick Bridge had been closed to traffic during previous weekends while strengthening work was carried out, but it was open as normal during the weekend just gone.

Chiswick Bridge is restored to its rightful place on Google Maps

Its disappearance from Google Maps prompted much mirth on Twitter.

Several users branded Google "careless" for misplacing the 82-year-old crossing, while one joked that Russian president Vladimir Putin was the only possible culprit.