River Tees historic Newport Bridge illuminated

Newport Bridge over the River Tees will be illuminated from sunset every night

A Grade II-listed bridge is to be permanently illuminated at night.

The new lighting on Newport Bridge across the River Tees will be switched on every night from sunset.

It brings the vertical-lift bridge, which opened in 1934, "in line" with landmarks such as The London Eye and Gateshead's Millennium Bridge, Stockton Council said.

Council leader Bob Cook said the installation "shows the bridge at its very best".

"Anyone passing it after sunset is in for a real treat," he said.

The illumination is created by about 150 energy-efficient LED lamps, designed and installed by local firms, the council added.

The 2,700-ton bridge has not had to be lifted since 1990 because of dwindling river traffic

The bridge was unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of York - later George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

It was one of the UK's first vertical lift bridges - a moveable structure with a crossing that can be lifted vertically to allow vessels to pass underneath.

Corrosion on the bridge was repaired in 2014 at a cost of £4m - more than double the original estimate of £1.6m.

The bridge opened in 1934 and in its heyday had 800 vessels a year travel underneath it