NEWPORT's transporter bridge could join the Taj Mahal and Great wall of China as a world World Heritage site if a high-powered British bid for UNESCO recognition is pushed through.

The imposing 105-year old Newport structure together with the 100-year-old bridge in Middlesbrough, Cleveland and the smaller 1915 bridge at Warrington in Cheshire represent the world's highest concentration of transporter bridges.

Supporters of the three bridges will make their bid jointly under the banner of the British branch of the World Association of Transporter Bridges.

"A pivotal meeting on Friday at the Celtic Manor Resport has been sponsored by the Celtic Manor - that's the sort of support we are getting" Newport Councillor David Hando who is chairman of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge said.

"Representatives of the two other bridges will meet among others Paul Flynn MP, Council leader Matthew Evans and Councillor Charles Ferris who is head of leisure services."

If the tripartite bid is successful the bridges will join some of the most famous landmarks from antiquity. It also means that Gwent will have two world heritage sites - the other is the ironworks at Blaenavon - which recognise the county as a mainspring of 19th and early 20th century engineering and trade.

Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge founding committee member Mrs Anne Gatehouse and who for almost two decades has pushed for its recognition said "We are in with a very good chance.

"One of the other eight transporter bridges remaining, the one at Bilbao has got a UNESCO recognition and our case is every bit as well presented.

"Professor Rolf Hoehmann of ther University of Rensburg where there is also a bridge will take our case forward.

"Our bridge and Middlesbrough's are in working condition but the one at Warrington is derelict.

"At 594 feet long and with a beam 177 above road level ours is the largest and is the oldest of eight bridges left in the world.

'Recognition will brings funds from UNESCO but also from other sources."

Although the Newport bridge was designed by a Frenchman Ferdinand Arnodin the practical engineering work was supervised by Robert Haynes in 1906 the borough engineer who is buried at St Woolos' cemetery and whose contribution has tended to be overlooked.

"I get the impression that the UNESCO recognition could come quite quickly" Mrs Gatehouse added.