WORK is set to begin on a £430,000 scheme to improve the lighting of Durham Castle and Cathedral.

The Durham County Council-funded project will be carried out by AK Lighting, of Bishop Auckland, with work due to start next month and expected to last two years.

The current lights date from the 1960s. Their eco-friendly replacements will cost half as much to power and will be capable of being dimmed or raised on demand.

Steve Keetley, the council’s head of technical services, said the current lighting system had reached the end of its service life and the improvements would be ‘fantastic’.

Councillor Bob Young, the council’s cabinet member for environment and leisure, said: "Over the next two years, this project will make a significant difference to the look of Durham’s evening skyline, especially when travelling into the city from the Gilesgate area.

"It is also a really positive step forward in cutting our energy costs and reducing our carbon footprint."

Officials say every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum during the work.

The council is facing £125m of cuts over four years and considering closing six leisure centre. However, it set aside £500,000 for the lighting project in its Medium Term Financial Plan.