Plans to be drawn up to resolve lighting issues on the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick

The lighting has been beset with problems in recent years, with floods and ice on the River Tweed damaging underwater cables and preventing some of the lights from functioning.

Berwick county councillors say they are determined to find a solution and a plan with an estimated cost of around £150,000 has been drawn up to resolve the issues.

Coun Georgina Hill, member for Berwick East, said: “The concept was excellent and this group of volunteers deserve enormous credit.

“However, the appropriate long term measures and future proofing were not put in place and Northumberland County Council, at that time, were not as helpful as they should have been.

“Now, through the Berwick Regeneration Commission and partners we are determined to identify the funding and get this matter finally resolved.”

In 2009, a small group of volunteers led a project to get lighting on the iconic bridge to mark the the 150th anniversary of the death of the great railway engineer Robert Stephenson, who designed and constructed the bridge, a 28-arch viaduct spanning the River Tweed.

The illumination scheme uses energy-efficient LED-based lights to illuminate the underside of the arches, with the lights able to change colours for different occasions.

The Royal Border Bridge, which was opened by Queen Victoria in 1850, carries the East Coast Main Line over the River Tweed between Berwick and Tweedmouth.