PLANS are on track to officially re-open Ovingham bridge to the public next week. 

An opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 3. 

When the bridge was closed on June 30, the last vehicle to travel across was a horse drawn flat cart. 

And it is hoped that another historic vehicle will be the first to traverse the refurbished bridge at its much-anticipated opening.

A vintage car is expected to drive from Prudhoe to Ovingham across the bridge, followed by an electric car. 

The ceremony will begin at 11am and after the cars have christened the new-look bridge, vicar of St Mary the Virgin Church in Ovingham, the Rev. Eric Lewis, will cut the ribbon. 

For residents and businesses in Prudhoe and Ovingham the re-opening can't come soon enough. 

The work was originally expected to be completed by June 30 this year, but has been delayed by over five months. 

Unexpected problems uncovered beneath decades of paintwork were blamed for the long delay.

The opening date was pushed back further following recent flood damage to the temporary scaffold and work compound. 

An independent review, investigating the efficiency of the work, has been commissioned by Northumberland County Council.