THE long-awaited opening of the Hadrian's Wall National Trail will take place in May.

For the first time, hikers will be able to walk the entire 84-mile length of the wall - a signposted trail stretching from coast to coast, from Wallsend, in Newcastle, in the east, to Bowness-on-Solway, in Cumbria, in the west.

The path takes in the cities of Newcastle and Carlisle and runs through some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

An opening ceremony on May 23 will be followed by a series of events over the spring bank holiday weekend and the half-term holiday.

The project, part of a £6m investment by the Countryside Commission, has been made possible by two Heritage Lottery Fund grants totalling £3.1m.

By 2006, about 20,000 people a year are expected to walk the path. Along with day visitors, they are expected to inject £76m into the economy, supporting an estimated 86 new jobs.

Countryside Agency Wider Welcome team leader Amanda Earnshaw said: "This is integrated rural development in action, a co-ordinated approach that will improve transport links and provide a boost to the Northumberland market towns of Hexham and Haltwhistle."