Eight firms bid for museum design

The museum is expected to open to the public in 2009

Eight leading firms of architects have been picked out of 50 to bid for the job of designing the new Museum of Bristol.

The winning team will be chosen at the end of the month to start transforming the city's ageing Industrial Museum.

The new museum, which is expected to open its doors to the public in 2009, will tell the story of Bristol and its role as a great UK seaport.

The project will complete the regeneration of the city's docklands.

Bristol City Council's recent bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund resulted in an award of £857,000 to develop plans for the new attraction and a pledge of £10.27m towards the project.

Councillor Anne White, executive member for environment, transport and leisure said: "Bristol deserves and will have, a world class museum."