The Northumberland Line connecting Ashington and Newcastle gained a third station this morning, when Newsham opened to passengers.

A local councillor has predicted that the demand will be so great that Northern will have to lengthen its trains.

Trains are now calling at Newsham every half hour, and the journey time to Newcastle is 22 minutes. The station should have opened with the 29km line in December, but the site was described as ‘complex’. It includes a new road bridge, which alone cost £30 million.

The first two stations to open were Ashington and Seaton Delaval, and three more are still under construction.

Councillor Daniel Carr, who represents the South Blyth ward for the Conservatives, told the BBC: ‘It was promised all those years ago and finally it's here.

‘I think the station will be used even more than Blyth Bebside which will hopefully open later this year.

‘These kind of transport hubs are really needed and I think we'll see a reduction in the number of cars leaving Blyth. I think Northern will need to put on extra coaches.’

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