Souter Lighthouse in South Shields to get £120,000 revamp

Souter Lighthouse is one of South Tyneside's top tourist attractions

A Tyneside lighthouse, which was the first in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity, is to undergo a £120,000 facelift.

Souter Lighthouse in South Shields opened in 1871 and is now run by the National Trust.

Its metal and glass domed lantern room - added in 1915 - is in need of repair after 100 years of weather damage.

The 10-week project will see original diamond shaped glass panes restored and corroded metalwork renovated.

The lighthouse lantern room has suffered 100 years of weather damage

The lighthouse, which was decommissioned by Trinity House in 1988, has 4,500 watt bulbs which are capable of producing a beam of 1.5 million candle power.

Last year was the lighthouse's most successful, attracting more than 28,000 visitors.