It will become the only UK newspaper to print in the 315x470mm format, and also the first national newspaper to print in full colour.

As revealed by PrintWeek this morning, Irish editions of the paper will be printed at Mortons of Portadown, while the majority of the paper's run will be printed on MAN Roland presses at the Guardian Print Centre at Newsfax in Bow, East London, and at Trafford Park Printers in Manchester.

The paper has been completely redesigned, with an expanded news section featuring extra letters and comment pages, a new economics section and a new science page.

G2, the paper's tabloid magazine section, will become a stitched half-Berliner sized section, and a new separate sports section, counting 12pp Monday-Thursday and more at the weekend, will be added.

The G3 sections, which often have a high pagination due to recruitment advertising, will grow from the current tabloid size to a full Berliner size.

Carolyn McCall, Guardian Newspapers chief executive, said: "This is a historic moment for The Guardian. With this bold move we will have the most modern and vibrant newspaper in the country.

"No other newspaper group has ever achieved the building of a new print centre and the installation of new presses in just 12 months. The editorial ambition, the commitment and the energy shown by every one of our staff has been phenomenal."

A 62m investment has gone into the project, with new MAN Roland Colorman presses at Guardian Newspapers' Manchester site Trafford Park Printers and a brand new site at Newsfax in Bow, East London, called the Guardian Print Centre.

Investment in Ferag stitching and trimming kit is also planned at Mortons.

Story by Josh Brooks