A new walking trail is to be created in Norfolk, making it possible to walk right across the width of the county from Great Yarmouth to King's Lynn.

Norfolk County Council will open the Wensum Way - a 12 mile footpath stretching from Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse to Lenwade - in the spring.

The trail will link one end of the Nar Valley Way with the Marriott's Way, joining up the Norfolk Trails network so hikers can travel all the way acorss the county on foot.

The Wensum Way will become a new Norfolk Trail, meaning that its surface, signposting and furniture will be to the same standard as the UK's prestigious National Trails.

Council leaders said, as well as increasing access to the countryside, the £40,000 project is also expected to boost Norfolk's economy by encouraging tourism.

Bill Borrett, acting county council leader and cabinet member for environment and waste, said: 'The new trail will pass through beautiful and varied countryside, from meadows and woodlands to lakes and riversides.

'It will offer something for everyone - whether they are dedicated walkers, artists or photographers, people looking for places to watch birds or go fishing or simply looking to spend a couple of hours in the countryside with family or friends.

'What is also very important is that it also makes good economic sense and will deliver good value for money for Norfolk's council tax payers.

'Estimates show that our existing 1,200 miles of Norfolk Trails can be worth £10m a year to our economy, which is why we are concentrating our efforts on developing and marketing this popular network of routes. '

Don Saunders, chairman of the Norfolk Local Access Forum, added: 'I welcome the new Wensum Way initiative as it offers a wonderful opportunity to boost countryside access for Norfolk residents and I'm very sure it will bring new visitors to the county.

'It also brings a brand new long distance walking opportunity to England, by linking with the rest of the Norfolk Trails and creating a new continuous east/west path across Norfolk which I am sure will be high on walkers' lists of challenges from the moment it opens in 2013.'