PLANS for a major revamp of one of Wirral's most prominent landmarks have been hit by the squeeze on local authority spending.

Next year sees the 250th anniversary of construction of the 110ft-high Leasowe Lighthouse and the "Friends" of the building are hoping that it will coincide with completion of the asset transfer process with Wirral Council.

They are confident they can raise around £200,000 over the next five years to cover the cost of structural and maintenance work needed at the lighthouse.

But according to the Friends' chairman Geoff Brown the transfer process has reached deadlock because the council do not have the funding to proceed further.

Said Mr Brown: "We have an agreement that they will pay the legal fees of £10,000. They say they don't have any money whatsoever.

"The whole issue is at stalemate."

The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse have spent around £210,000 on the structure since 1989 but work still needs to be done, particularly on leaky upper storey windows and exterior paintwork.

Said Mr Brown: "It still requires quite a lot of work.

"We qualify for both National Heritage and Big Lottery funding and we can raise money from abseiling sessions and various other events.

"We have a business plan and a complete survey pointing out all the defects at the lighthouse."

He added: "We have more than 300 members of the Friends but we do need more volunteers."

Cllr Adrian Jones, council cabinet member for corporate resources, said: "We are continuing to work with the Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse on the asset transfer process.

"Whilst the original budget set aside to help groups with community asset transfers has now been fully committed, we are investigating how we can help the group work towards a successful transfer and are confident that a way forward can be agreed, subject to cabinet approval."

The Friends are urgently delving through the archives in a bid to find the exact date that the lighthouse became operational so that they have a focal point for next year's celebrations.

They are hoping, at the same time, to mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first hovercraft passenger trip between Leasowe and Rhyl.

Said Mr Brown: "We have been in contact with the Gosport Hovercraft Museum to try to get a hovercraft to Leasowe foreshore."

Leasowe lighthouse is the oldest surviving brick-built lighthouse in Europe.

It was built in 1763 by Mersey Docks and Harbour Board with 660,000 hand-made bricks.

The light was extinguished in July 1908 when the lamp ceased to function.

After a period as a tearoom the lighthouse was closed to the public in 1935 and the building was hit by neglect and vandalism.

Following public pressure the exterior of the building was painted in 1973 and a short time later a firm of developers put forward plans for a £500,000 scheme to develop the lighthouse, which failed.

In 1989 the council approved a £30,000 scheme to refurbish the lighthouse and a rangers' office was provided on the ground floor.

The Friends group has been working hard since then to raise cash for its revival. They are committed to the restoration and development of the lighthouse and its environment.