Much of the city was built using the profits from slavery

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office has asked the city council to join a national partnership with Liverpool, London and Hull.

The slave trade was banned by an Act of Parliament in March 1807.

"The aim is to develop a programme of events and activities that fully involve communities," a council spokesman said.

"It will secure funding from national lottery and other charitable trusts."

'Major role'

He added: "Further meetings and consultation events are planned with black community groups over the coming months, culminating in a conference at Watershed in April."

The council's budget for the anniversary will be debated at a meeting on 28 February.

Councillor Janke said: "Bristol is extremely proud to be invited by the Deputy Prime Minster to play such a major role in this very important national commemoration."

But not all councillors are in favour of the plan. Conservative leader Richard Eddy said the cost was prohibitively expensive to the city.

"It's not an ethnic issue, nor indeed is it a political issue. I think most people would agree that to spend this sum of money on this particular cause at this time is wrong when we face meltdown on our public services."

By 1730, Bristol - aided by its fast access to the Atlantic - had replaced London as the centre of the UK's slave trade.

Much of the city's wealth developed out of this trade with figures of the time, such as merchant and philanthropist Edward Colston, still memorialised in concert halls, statues and street names.

Although the 1807 abolished the slave trade within the British Empire it was not until 1833 that all slaves within the empire won their freedom.