Hadrian's Wall Heritage (HWH) has announced plans to create a 'line of light' along the length of the World Heritage Site between Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, and Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria.

Around 500 points of light will be placed 250m (820ft) apart, following the 84-mile (135km) Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail on 13 March 2010, as part of next year's British Tourism Week. Led by HWH, the project will complement a wider programme of events and activities drawn up by culture10 in North East England, as well as Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts' Lakes Alive scheme in Cumbria.

John Farquhar-Smith, former technical director for the handover ceremony for London 2012 at the end of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will produce the Illuminating Hadrian's Wall event. HWH chief executive Linda Tuttiett said: "In partnership with local people, we wanted to do something really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain's longest and greatest piece of heritage and celebrate the landscape of Hadrian's Wall Country."

Smith added: "Our aim is to capture the public's imagination with an event that will show the immense scale and beauty of Hadrian's Wall and the countryside, villages, towns and cities that it runs through." A camera crew will record the progress of the line of light from a helicopter, with the pictures being beamed to to giant screens as part of major events in the north east and in Carlisle.