The area under the bridge will also be lit

More than 3,000 tiny light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will illuminate the chains and fluorescent lights below the handrail will help light the walk way.

The trustees say the new lights will be officially switched-on on 9 April 2006, to celebrate Brunel's 200th birthday.

The plans will be on show at Clifton Library from 3-15 December.

In the new year the exhibition will move to The Architecture Centre on Narrow Quay from 3 -22 January.

System trials

Lamps will be concealed within the arches of the two 26m (86 ft) high towers at each end of the bridge, and in the spaces around the top, will reinforce the three-dimensional aspects in ways which were impossible with the old system.

The two sides of each tower will be washed with a white light, carefully directed and focussed to avoid the problems associated with urban glow.

Low-powered lights concealed beneath each end of the bridge deck will gently downlight the abutments so that, when viewed from the north or south, the bridge will no longer appear to 'float' above the Avon Gorge.

Representatives of Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, English Heritage, English Nature and the National Trust were invited to view trials of the system which took place in September, and their responses were positive.

The final design will be subject to planning permission.