Following an incident earlier this year at St Mary's Island when a North Tyneside Council refuse lorry slipped off the causeway, measures are being put in place to prevent it happening again.

Among the schemes are information boards telling drivers and visitors when it is safe to cross.

However, vital work to repair the causeway appears to be on hold after council officials were given an estimated bill of £1m.

It is believed the refuse lorry slide off as the causeway has started to crumble as sea water is now getting in between the original causeway from 1929 and the updated version from 1969, but now only minor repairs are taking place.

Work is taking place on upgrading the lighthouse, with the two classrooms being transformed and the exhibition space improved to allow more displays.

Part of the tower itself will be closed at certain times in the summer as it is to be re-glazed and painted, with work expected to start at the end of the month.

A council spokesperson said: "The plan for the further development of St Mary's Island identified potential options relating to the upgrading of the causeway as part of the overall project.

"The figure quoted reflects the potential cost of what that might be.

"In the meantime, we continue to carry out patch repairs to the causeways required and have a regular inspection programme in place to inform this process.

"In addition, we have upgraded public information notices and are providing detailed signage as part of the overall signage scheme along the seafront."