THE spotlight will fall on cricketing ‘derby’ rivals as newly-erected pylons are switched on for the first time, on Friday (May 29).

Six 55-metre floodlighting structures have been rapidly mounted at Durham County Cricket Club’s Emirates ICG (International Cricket Ground), at Chester-le-Street, since planning approval was granted last month.

Despite opposition from local residents, who feared the lights would be a blot on the landscape and spoil ‘iconic’ views across the River Wear to Lumley Castle, Durham County Council’s planning committee gave the £1.2 million development the go-ahead at its April meeting.

The club said it needed the lights to enable the stadium, on the Riverside, Chester-le-Street, to feature as a venue in the 2019 World Cup, as well as allowing the ground to stage other high profile day/night fixtures.

But it pledged the lights would be used on a maximum of 20 evenings per season.

Following the hasty erection of the pylons, the final touches are being added to give Friday’s (May 29) big annual Durham Jets v Yorkshire Vikings T20 Blast derby the honour of being the first fixture played under the new floodlights.

A big crowd is expected as Durham and Yorkshire have both made winning starts to this year’s T20 competition.

Following Durham’s County Championship early victory at Worcestershire earlier today (Wednesday May 27), some of the players returned to the Riverside to see for themselves the quality of the new lights.

Ryan Buckley, Jamie Harrison and Graham Onions were on hand to see the final light bulbs fitted in the last of six lighting towers.

Opening bowler Onions said: “The floodlights look really impressive and are a real statement of intent for the club.

“We have a fantastic ground here, and to be able to host games of international significance will allow us to shine a light on Durham, literally and figuratively, with a worldwide audience watching.

“Lighting is massively important in cricket, and these floodlights will make a huge difference.”

Durham’s chief executive, David Harker, said he was delighted to see the floodlights put in place to allow the club to starting to using them so soon.

“The boost to the local economy really will be significant.

“We believe as many as 17,500 extra people per season could visit the stadium, so, for us, it was always a necessary investment and one that will be of huge benefit to not only the club, but to businesses operating in surrounding areas.”

With the lights in place, Durham’s Friday evening home fixtures in the T20 Blast competition, which previously began at 5.30pm, will all now begin at 7pm.