A new bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland would lead to the creation of a 'Celtic powerhouse', according to a leading architect.

Professor Alan Dunlop from Liverpool University said the scheme, which would cost somewhere between £15 billion - £20 billion, could connect Portpatrick in Dumfries with Larne in Northern Ireland.

As well as boosting the economy of both countries, the bridge would iron out border issues post-Brexit and is more 'feasible' than a bridge across the English Channel recently proposed by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, which is estimated by Prof Dunlop to cost around £120bn.

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Speaking on BBC Scotland's John Beattie Show, he said: "It would be a wonderful thing - a connection between Scotland and Ireland. We share a lot of history together, similar ideals.

"The business potential is exceptional, the chance of actually really making an investment in what would would be the true north.

"Westminster politicians talk about the northern powerhouse, but they're really only talking about Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield. This would be an investment in what would be, I think, the true North."

Mr Dunlop, who is a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, added there were two potential routes for a Scotland - Northern Ireland bridge.

"There are two ways it could go. It could go from Portpatrick to Bangor or Larne, but there are significant environmental and geological challenges there," he said.

"We do have incredibly talented architects and engineers in Scotland so I am sure that as a technical challenge it wouldn't be insurmountable.

"The shorter route would be from around Campbeltown, the Mull of Kintyre across to the Antrim coast. But getting to Campbeltown from the central belt is very difficult."

(LM)