Belfast's famous umbrella street undergoing refurbishment

If you are hoping to get a picture under the neon lit umbrellas in Belfast city centre, you will have to wait a while.

The art installation suspended above the cobblestone of Commercial Court has been taken down for "urgent" refurbishment.

The 21 brollies were installed in 2021 and are a popular stop with locals and tourists alike hoping for an Instagram worthy picture.

Willie Jack, who owns the Duke of York pub, commissioned the umbrellas and said they are in much need of attention.

"After five years they've become weathered," he said.

"It's a temporary measure and disappointing for visitors to the city. It's partly been done for safety reasons and to make them shine brighter.

"There's quite a lot of engineering and testing involved. Every now and then you have to do things structurally and we will re-figure them."

"We hope to have them back up for St Patrick's Day but they will come back better and brighter."

Many people will have seen the images of the rainbow coloured installation, with tourists taking to the street, including King Charles and Queen Camilla who also wanted to get that instagrammable image.

The umbrellas were also a backdrop to a scene in Sky Atlantic's The Lovers, as characters Janet and Seamus shared a romantic moment under the neon lights.

The suspended lights were created by a local lighting company and hang over the length of Commercial Court in the Cathedral Quarter of the city.

The hand-crafted umbrellas are made of steel and are finished with paint of different colours that can be changed by neon lighting in the evenings.

Sophie Ball who is visiting Belfast from Taunton, England, says "we knew they were here and about the Duke of York".

"We are a little bit disappointed we've missed them. We'll have to come back again to see them," she added.

Another regular visitor to the city said: "They set the tone for a party atmosphere. It seems it'd have been better to have done it in the summer nights rather when light is needed in the evening, but they have become iconic."

Local photographer Kris Samson told BBC News NI they are "one of our best attractions".

"It's a statement. It brings people to the area; it's iconic.

"People will miss them, it'll be a missing link for a while. In the bigger picture, it'll be better."