Southampton City Council has said it has no plans to rename the Itchen Bridge after Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy - but its blue lights could be ditched for red and white.

Taxi driver Perry McMillan called for Southampton FC's red and white lights to be installed instead of the current blue as that is the colour of rival and near neighbour Portsmouth.

Both the lights change plea and the bid to rename the bridge were made at Court Leet two months ago.

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The switch to blue and white lights could happen - if the plan gets the blessing of among others Network Rail, Port of Southampton (ABP) and the Civil Aviation Authority.

A council report, due to be discussed on Tuesday, said: "Officers are investigating the possibility of altering the colour of lighting on the Itchen Bridge.

"It should be noted that the current blue lighting forms part of the safety measures in place on the bridge and a change in colour needs to be considered by other impacted parties (for example, Network Rail, Port of Southampton (ABP) and the Civil Aviation Authority).

"If a change in colour was to be supported from a safety perspective, a relevant funding source would need to be found."

Saints fan Nick Illingsworth wanted the bridge to be called The Lawrie McMenemy Bridge ahead of the 50th anniversary of second-division Southampton defeating the might of Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium after a Bobby Stokes goal.

But now council officials have said: "The Council has no plans to rename the Itchen Bridge.

"The Council is respectful of the achievements of Mr McMenemy both as a sportsman and for his wider contributions to the city, which as noted in the presentment, led to Mr McMenemy being made a Freeman of the City.

"Consideration needs to be given to the legal implications of renaming the bridge (it being referred to in the Hampshire Act for Toll purposes for example) and was named as such through an Act of Parliament and would require a subsequent Act of Parliament to change it.

"It is also common practice not to name streets and highway structures such as bridges after living people."