Growing safety fears have led to the banning of cars on the landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge during part of this year's forthcoming Bristol Balloon Fiesta.

Concern had been growing over the numbers that were expected to cross the world-famous bridge for the "nightglows" in nearby Ashton Court on Thursday and Saturday.

The 137-year-old bridge is to close to all vehicles on Thursday and Saturday evening between 2100BST and 0000BST.

Thousands are expected to attend the "glows" with many finding the easiest access to the site via the historic bridge.

We take these measures to make sure the bridge is here for many generations to come.

John Mitchell

Bridge master, John Mitchell said the restrictions were precautionary.

"We want people to cross as easily as possible," he said.

"However the numbers that do arrive, we are not able to accommodate safely across the bridge.

"It does move about quite a bit when you get a lot of pedestrians on it and it would move about an awful lot more if we were to fill up the carriageway with cars.

Restriction measures are 'precautionary'

"We will be letting a few people across at a time to make sure the bridge is running at capacity which is about 12,000 people an hour.

"We take these measures to make sure the bridge is here for many generations to come. The advice is to be patient."

One pedestrian recalled his experience of crossing the bridge after the "glow" last year.

"Having got on to the bridge, it suddenly felt as if it was moving under your feet - I likened it to being drunk without having had a drink but I did consider it quite a frightening experience."