After 80 years of waiting, Lowestoft is to finally get its long-awaited third crossing.

The town has been fighting to get a much-needed third crossing over Lake Lothing since before the Second World War.

Residents had all but given up hope of ever seeing it built until prime minister David Cameron pledged during last year's general election that it would be finished by 2020.

However a little bit of doubt remained as an announcement in tomorrow's Budget was dependent on the town submitting a strong enough business case for a bridge in a central location over Lake Lothing.

However on a visit to Felixstowe today, prime minister David Cameron confirmed the bridge would get £70million of government funding, with the remaining £9million coming from local funding sources.

Mr Cameron said: 'Good news for Lowestoft. I can confirm that tomorrow we will be announcing that this £70m investment will be going ahead. I've seen for myself, with my own eyes during a visit before the election, just how important this is.'

Waveney MP Peter Aldous said: 'I think it's a very significant step forward.

'After many, many years, government and Whitehall have finally got the message.'

See tomorrow's EDP for more reaction.