WHEN YVONNE Stovold was a young woman about town in Southampton in the 1960s, the town's youngsters would enjoy themselves by going to concerts and dances at the city's pier.

Alas, those far-off days are a distant memory due to the fire which ravaged the landmark more than a decade ago.

Now Yvonne has come up with a radical plan to give Southampton back its elusive "Wow" factor - rebuild the Royal Pier at Town Quay and have a monorail running across the top of the city's monuments so visitors can get a birds-eye view of Southampton's hidden treasures.

Yvonne, 63, a domestic charge-hand from Violet Road in Bassett, believes that the city of her birth is famous for its transport.

She would like to see a huge Viking longboat prow built on the docks between the rivers Itchen and Test to give visitors and residents alike a glimpse of Southampton's history.

She said: "The final and all-embracing Wow factor is a high monorail tour of the old city, leaving the entrance pier building and travelling clockwise along the new West Quay leisure complex with views of the old city walls.

"It would turn to return south over the parks to the waterfront area, taking in Ocean Village, the dock area and Town Quay."

She added: "We need to be able to appreciate a birds-eye view of our best assets."

Last week, The Daily Echo launched its competition for readers to design a building or structure which would give Southampton its elusive "Wow" factor.

Entries can either be drawings or in writing. The winner will get six bottles of champagne. Winning entrants under 18 will get a stack of DVDs.

The closing date for entries is Friday, December 10. They should be sent to David Newble, Southern Daily Echo, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX. Alternatively, e-mail david.newble@soton-echo.co.uk.