PERHAPS a vision in glorious pink? Or royal blue, luminous green for night use, or rainbow stripes?Residents will be given the chance to choose the colour of a new £340,000 footbridge over the A14 at Felixstowe when the design is unveiled next week.

PERHAPS a vision in glorious pink? Or royal blue, luminous green for night use, or rainbow stripes?

Residents will be given the chance to choose the colour of a new £340,000 footbridge over the A14 at Felixstowe when the design is unveiled next week.

Work on the bridge - which will lead from Rendlesham Road, Felixstowe, to the fields of Clickett Hill, on the edge of Trimley - could start this autumn and a public exhibition of the proposals will take place on Wednesday May 18.

It will be held at Cavendish Community Church, Grange Farm Avenue, Felixstowe, from 9am until 7.30pm.

Initially it will be the bridge that leads to nowhere and will only be used by a handful of dog walkers wanting access to country paths and who currently run the gauntlet of juggernauts and cars on the four-lane A14 with their pets.

But landowners Trinity College, Cambridge, are working with the Highways Agency and others to ensure in future the bridge will link in with other paths and roads so it can be used by workers to get to and from the port.

This will be possible once the Clickett Hill plateaux starts to be developed.

A survey of 900 residents and businesses carried out in 2003 revealed large-scale support for the project.

Of 613 responses, 76 per cent thought improved crossing facilities would benefit the community, 70pc thought existing facilities were inadequate and 95pc of those in support suggested a footbridge as an improvement measure.

Brian Pitkin, Highways Agency project manager, said: "The footbridge would provide a safer crossing of the A14 for pedestrians and cyclists where there is already a crossing point next to Rendlesham Road.

"The bridge would encourage walking, provide wheelchair access and allow for future provision of a cycle route.

"I do encourage members of the public to come along to the exhibition to see the proposals. We need to know what people think about the footbridge. Their views are important to us."

Representatives from the Highways Agency and consultants Atkins will be available to explain the proposals and answer questions.

From May 19 the proposals will displayed at Felixstowe Library for one week.

People wanting to support, comment on, or object to the draft for the changes to footpaths and building of the bridge should complete a questionnaire at the exhibition or write to the Highways Agency, Heron House, 49-53 Goldington Road, Bedford MK40 3LL, by June 17.