A FLAGSHIP visitor centre on Hadrian‘s Wall has moved a step closer after securing another significant funding boost.

A £1m cash injection from the North East Rural Growth Network means £13.4m has now been confirmed for the scheme, which will cost a total of £14.2m. 

Northumberland National Park Authority has estimated that the North East’s economy will benefit from visitor spend to the tune of £5m per year.

The Sill is scheduled to open at Once Brewed near Bardon Mill in 2017.

Glen Sanderson, chairman of the national park authority, said the latest coup represents support for a scheme which will bring at least 120 jobs and attract 120,000 visitors per year. 

He said: ”The funding acts as recognition of the wide-ranging benefits the project offers not just to the people of the region and beyond, but to the North-East economy as a whole.

"This investment in the Sill will help ensure that rural businesses continue to thrive, and we are enormously grateful for this support. The grant will enable the Sill project to move forward with its plans at pace and puts us within touching distance of the funding target."