HOMES of the famous and sites of historical interest across Eastleigh could soon bear a blue plaque if one councillor gets his way.

Steve Broomfield wants Eastleigh to follow in the footsteps of London and Southampton when it comes to boosting tourism and trumpeting the borough's heritage.

His scheme may even involve a bid to re-name Southampton International Airport after the designer of the famous Second World War Spitfire fighter aircraft.

He told the Daily Echo: "I'm personally cheesed off that Eastleigh airport is known as Southampton International.

"Bearing in mind that the prototype Spitfire first took off from Eastleigh airfield, I would like it to be named RJ Mitchell Airport. If Liverpool Airport can be called John Lennon, why not?"

Re-naming the airport may be a long-shot, but Councillor Broomfield is keen to see a plaque scheme introduced in the borough and tonight will ask a full meeting of Eastleigh Council to back a move to investigate.

He said: "There are lots of things of interest in the borough and I would like anything that has a famous connection - houses, workplaces and factories - to be marked.

"This country is sometimes in danger of forgetting its history. We ought to be celebrating it."

As founder chairman of West End Local History Society, Cllr Broomfield said West End alone had three homes that could be recognised - those of the founder of the international organisation Men of the Trees, Richard St Barbe Baker, cricketer CB Fry and Sir Arthur Rostron, captain of the Carpathia which rescued 706 people from the ill-fated Titanic.

He also pointed to Botley's connections with political radical and journalist William Cobbett and Bursledon's Elephant Boatyard, where one of Nelson's flagships was built. Cllr Broomfield said the council's Hamble Valley tourism unit did a "wonderful" job promoting the area but a blue or green plaque scheme would be another step forward.

"It might also be a way of helping protect those sites against development," he added.

Tonight Cllr Broomfield will be urging the council to consider a scheme and suggesting that local history societies should be involved.

Eight of Southampton's most famous residents have already been honoured with English Heritage's prestigious blue plaques on the houses where they once lived.

Among those to be acclaimed are RJ Mitchell, General Gordon, who became a national hero at Khartoum, and architect Herbert Collins.

Who do you think should be honoured? Ring Steve Flux on 023 8061 4271, e-mail him at steve.flux@soton-echo.co.uk or write to the Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX.