STATIONS and bridges will be illuminated by Network Rail tomorrow night as a tribute to the National Health Service, whose 72nd anniversary falls this weekend.

The NHS was created by the post-war Labour government and was launched on 5 July 1948, as the first service of its kind anywhere in the world. The railways had already gone a transformation of their own that year when the old companies had been nationalised on 1 January as British Railways.

Network Rail said blue lighting will be switched on at 20.00 to celebrate the anniversary of the health service at a number of larger stations, including many of the London termini as well as the principal stations in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Cardiff. Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, which carries the railway across the river Tamar on the border of Devon and Cornwall, will also be illuminated.

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: ‘On its 72nd birthday, never has our NHS been so supported, so needed and so celebrated. Fellow critical workers from the rail industry will show their appreciation this weekend as we play a small part in helping celebrate this wonderful milestone.’