A £245M street-lighting deal has been struck.

Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council have chosen Scottish and Southern Energy and Royal Bank Leasing as the preferred bidder in the scheme to improve street lighting.

The 25-year contract, to be signed at the end of the year, will see more than 50,000 lampposts replaced and miles of back lanes illuminated.

The contract will also mean 5,000 illuminated traffic signs and 3,000 illuminated traffic bollards are installed.