A private consortium - the Bridge Across the Bay company - wants to build the massive structure from Barrow to Heysham in north Lancashire.

Their plans are due to be presented at a meeting in Grange-over-Sands on Tuesday evening.

The bridge could create up to 2,000 jobs, and is backed by tourism bosses.

A series of underwater turbines and offshore wind turbines to create electricity are proposed as part of the plans, which Cumbria Tourist Board hopes will also boost visitor numbers to the area.

Protected area

The consortium, which includes Cumbria businessman David Brockbank, believes the suspension bridge would shave up to an hour off road journey times between Lancashire and the Lake District.

But environmentalists have warned the project will need to meet tough guidelines as the bay is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.

Morecambe Bay is known for its coastal lagoons, salt marshes and varied animal life.

Lancaster City Council and Barrow Borough Council have already discussed the proposal.

The government has earmarked �1bn for the promotion of wind power off Barrow, Morecambe and Heysham in the Irish Sea.