'Gloomy' Newcastle Cathedral getting £250,000 makeover

The cathedral's lights date back 30 years and are not up to the job

New lights are being installed to brighten up Newcastle's "gloomy" cathedral as part of a £250,000 revamp.

The money will also be used to clean St Nicholas' monuments including a bust of Admiral Lord Collingwood, dating back to the 18th Century.

The Heritage Lottery Fund money will also be spent on a new sound system, as well as LED lights which will reduce the cathedral's carbon footprint.

Cathedral staff are trying to raise £1m to pay for a new heating system.

'More welcoming'

Cathedral administrator Julian Haynes said: "The perception of the cathedral is that it is dark and that has been down to the lighting which was put in 30 years ago and was not up to the job then.

"This new system will allow us to light monuments, transform the interior and different areas of the building.

"This is a great opportunity to make the cathedral more welcoming and more accessible for people."

Newcastle-born Collingwood was Lord Nelson's second in command at Trafalgar in 1805.

Other memorials at the cathedral include an effigy of John Collingwood Bruce, the historian who first popularised the study of Hadrian's Wall.