Edinburgh city councillors have voted in favour of a longer route for the city’s troubled trams project, which could cost up to £1 billion.

The counsellors had voted to end the line at Haymarket – more than a mile from the city centre - in a bid to reduce costs.

But controversial decision caused anger in parts of the city, which had remained closed for a year to allow new tramlines to be laid.

The Scottish government threatened to withhold £60 million of funding,

The city’s ruling Liberal Democrat and Scottish National parties voted together in a special meeting on Friday to save the line, which is now millions of pounds over budget and three years late.

Edinburgh Trams has been under construction in Edinburgh since 2008.