TWO businessmen who worked in the cover of night to turn Bewdley bridge blue for the NHS have been lobbying to get the landmark lit up for the last 15 years.

Richard and Robert Heath are the brothers behind the tribute, which caused excitement in the town after the lights were installed seemingly out of the blue last month to pay homage to the life-saving staff on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.

The duo run Light Ideas International, which has illuminated the likes of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

The newly-enhanced bridge over the River Severn has been applauded by people from across the town, but Richard admitted the installation got him a "slap on the wrist" from the council.

He told The Shuttle: "I've been trying to light up the bridge for the last 15 years.

"I've had various meetings with the council but it's always been put on hold for funding reasons etc.

"This time when the chance came up, I decided to take it upon myself to do it. I know all the limitations as far as the bridge is concerned - what I can and can't do in terms of making attachments.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

"We work with a German company called BEGA who make very high quality fittings and fortunately they were still working.

"I spoke to them and they were able to send the fittings at a discounted price. It would normally have cost around £3,000. I paid part of that and they funded the rest.

"I decided I'd rather seek forgiveness than permission to get it done a bit quicker.

"The county council contacted me about it after and gave me a bit of a slap on the wrist because I didn't gain permission, but I've received retrospective permission now that they've seen how well it's been done."

The bridge was lit up for the first time during the Clap For Our Carers tribute, and has turned blue every night from 8pm since.

The lights are running off electricity from Richard's house nearby, and use around 80 times as much power than your average household LED downlight.

Father-of-one Richard hopes to keep the lights running until the end of the covid-19 pandemic and has set up a fundraising page to raise money for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

"The lights are meant to be a constant reminder that people are putting their lives at risk to help others during the pandemic," he said.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

"I can't make masks or gowns but this is my profession so this is what I can do to help raise money.

"All of the money will go to the NHS - I don't want anything in return.

"This is lighting up a main feature of the town, so if it gets people seeing the lights on the bridge, hopefully they will miss it when its gone and support another attempt to get them fitted permanently."

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-heath11.