EASTLEIGH'S civic chiefs have thrown their weight behind plans to blast the skies of Southampton with laser light.

Eastleigh Borough Council has backed the plans to bring the so-called "wow" factor to the city by projecting laser beams from the civic centre's Grade II listed clock tower.

Two weeks ago, civic leaders unveiled the groundbreaking £249,000 project to illuminate the skies over the city from dusk to midnight each day.

A Daily Echo poll comes to a close today after receiving hundreds of comments on the project.

The results of the poll will be revealed in tomorrow's Echo.

On Monday the idea will be debated by Southampton council before a final decision is made on January 22.

Eastleigh council leader Keith House dubbed the project an "imaginative plan" which would "shout Southampton's achievements from the rooftops".

Mr House said: "When any project is put forward that involves risk and change it inevitably attracts criticism about whether it is a waste of money.

"The laser light project is imaginative, has a relatively low cost and would be something distinctive and different for the area.

"Southampton has improved greatly as a city in recent years but has not always shouted it from the rooftops - the laser gateway will be a way of doing this.

"The lasers will be a beacon for the city and its region."

The laser light scheme - the brainchild of the Southampton Partnership - would see lasers shining from the tower which would be visible for up to 14 miles from the city centre.

They would be fired up in early April as part of the city's 95th commemorations of the sinking of the Titanic.

However, the project has come under fire in recent weeks from local astronomers who claim the project is a form of "sky vandalism", obscuring the view of stars over Hampshire.

Greenwich Observatory entered the debate, stating that its laser projection - which uses the same as the ones the Southampton project would use - has not obstructed stargazers.

The costs of the scheme, dubbed Southampton Laser Gateway, are being met with a £249,000 grant from the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA).