ONE of Scotland's best-known landmarks is being lined up to be put on a par with the Egyptian Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal. The Forth Bridge is set to be put forward as Scotland's latest world heritage site – some 120 years after the industrial masterpiece was completed.

Edinburgh and Fife have agreed to join forces to promote an official bid to secure world-class status for the railway bridge, which needs the backing of the UK government to have a chance of succeeding. However it has already won the backing of both the Scottish Government and Network Rail, which is in the midst of a £150 million repair and maintenance programme.

THE Forth Bridge, Scotland's northern wilderness and Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings in Glasgow are among nearly 40 contenders bidding to join iconic landmarks such as The Great Wall of China and The Statue of Liberty as World Heritage sites. A 38-strong list announced yesterday also includes Arbroath Abbey, St Andrews and its famous Links and the Iron Age ruins of Mousa, Old Scatness and Jarlshof in Shetland.

Other landmarks to be nominated to Unesco by the UK government next year include Brunel's Great Western Railway, the eighth century Offa's Dyke on the English-Welsh border and Chatham Dockyard and its defences in Kent. The government plans to submit a tentative list of sites to Unesco next year with a view to making nominations in 2012.

The owners of the Forth Rail Bridge are not backing the move for it to be awarded World Heritage site status. Network Rail said it was concerned by the move as it believes it would impose "additional burdens" on its ability to operate the 120-year-old bridge.

The Forth Bridge and Shetland's Iron Age settlements are among six Scottish bids for World Heritage site status. A total of 38 UK places are competing to be recognised by United Nations' cultural body Unesco.

The Forth Bridge is to be considered as a Unesco World Heritage site. A nomination for the famous bridge will be submitted to the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for a decision at the 2015 meeting.

The nomination will be overseen by the Forth Bridges Forum, which includes representatives from Historic Scotland, bridge owners Network Rail, Transport Scotland, the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, Fife Council and City of Edinburgh Council.