The council has held a bidders day setting out plans to move forward with a more cost-effective A-frame pylon design for a budget of around £85m.

The council was forced to abandon plans to build Britain’s tallest bridge with iconic independent curving pylons last year after costs started to rocket.

Contractors also shunned the ambitious scheme warning the project design was too high-risk a build for the £120m budget.

The main issue was the risk associated with building independently curved free-standing bridge pylons.

The council is now inviting contractors to come back with cheaper design and build options and hopes to shortlist three bidders to enter into detailed negotiations.

PQQ and the associated documentation from the NEPO purchasing portal.