IDEAS for a new logo to bring visitors flocking back to Winchester have gone on display - but the Daily Echo has been banned from showing readers the controversial designs.

Civic chiefs in England's ancient capital want to replace the current image of King Alfred the Great to attract a new breed of tourist to the city.

Three designs produced by a Southampton based firm were available for the public to view yesterday - the first of just two days for people to have their say.

When the Daily Echo asked to publish the logos today, the answer was no go.

The company designing the logos refused to release them, saying that they were not the finished articles.

Instead, we can simply describe them.

The new logos are all based around the letter W - which we assume stands for Winchester.

The first logo has a large W with an outline of the cathedral under it and inside that outline, a second outline of the 15th century Buttercross monument on the High Street.

The second logo has the W made up of different coloured triangles and has been designed to depict the changing cultural side of the city.

The third logo is again made up of the multi-coloured triangle W, only this time it is slightly curved to make it resemble a crown - just like the one King Alfred currently sports.

Winchester City Council's tourism bosses have decided the marketing strategy for England's former capital needs an overhaul, and as part of this, the current logo of King Alfred could be ditched in favour of something new.

However, in order to ensure whatever changes are made fit the bill, a consultation exercise has been arranged to gauge opinions.

The exhibition, which is being staged in the Winchester Tourism Office under the Guildhall on The Broadway, is to finish today with a last chance to view the ideas between 2pm and 4pm.

The proposals have been drawn up by design company Graphic Workshop and include ideas for a new front cover for the city's official visitors guide.

There are five options ranging from a scenic view of Winchester taken from the top of Magdalen Hill to an abstract shot symbolising the city's more modern side.

The council says the changes to the guide have been designed to attract a wider range of people to the city, with the guide highlighting Winchester's more modern attributes alongside the famous historic ones.