PLANNERS behind the Gateshead Millennium Bridge hope it will be in place by tomorrow.

Yesterday's storms meant plans to transport the bridge up the River Tyne from the Amec shipyard, in Wallsend, had to be scrapped.

Forecasts for tomorrow show an improvement in the weather, and the £22m bridge is expected to be eased into position by one of the world's biggest cranes, Asian Hercules II.

If the bad weather continues it is hoped the 850-tonne bridge will be put in place on Thursday.

Steve Aspinall, project manager, said: "It will take seven hours to get the bridge in place and secure.

"The main lifting will be taking place during the day, but we will finish after dark under floodlights."

Asian Hercules II is on hire for the whole of November should the weather continue to hinder the development.