THE wraps are soon to start coming off a North-East bridge as a refurbishment project nears a conclusion.

But motorists have been warned they still face up to two months' more disruption as the restoration of Wearmouth Bridge, in Sunderland, runs over budget and beyond deadline.

The £2.1m contract is the most thorough restoration of the bridge - which carries the A1018 over the River Wear - in its 75-year life.

Problems are exacerbated on match days at the Stadium of Light when lane flow is restricted.

Although scheduled to finish last month, contractor Pyeroy and Sunderland City Council have said it could take until the end of May.

But the tarpaulin which has covered the bridge for most of the past nine months will start to be removed in the final stages of refurbishment.

Contractors blame additional work which became apparent once repairs began last May, as well as an arson attack in a paint store, which caused a week's delay.

Pyeroy managing director Hugh Pelham said: "The extent of refurbishment has been considerably greater than originally envisaged, with shot-blasting, roadworks, lighting and steelwork repairs."

City council development and regeneration director Phil Barrett said: "Although the timetable is not what we expected, I'm satisfied that we will end up with a thorough, value-for-money job with a finish that will last us for the next 20 to 25 years."