A TOWER, at least 100 feet high, giving people unprecedented views across Southampton is part of an ambitious plan to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic.

The sky-high viewing platform is the centrepiece of a proposal to turn Southampton into the global centre for the centenary of the sinking of the ill-fated liner.

Visitors to the tower, which would also be a memorial to local merchant seaman who lost their lives in the two world wars, would be able to look out across the docks to the berth where Titanic left on her doomed maiden voyage in 1912.

The plan has already been fully backed by Southampton's Titanic survivor, Millvina Dean who, as a baby, escaped from the liner before she sank beneath the Atlantic waves after she struck an iceberg.

"Southampton should do a lot more to remember Titanic, so anything like this tower would be an excellent idea,'' said Millvina, who will also be 100 in 2012.

A motion outlining the scheme was put to a full meeting of Southampton City Council by Liberal Democrat Millbrook councillor, Peter Wakeford yesterday.

"We hope the city will consider a week of commemoration with the building of a Titanic memorial visitors' viewing tower,'' said Councillor Wakeford.

"Such a tower would allow future generations to enjoy watching ships coming and going from the port.''

The tower is the joint idea of Mr Wakeford and the Liberal Democrat councillor for Peartree, John Slade, who seconded the motion.

"It would have to be at least 100 feet high and ideally built somewhere on the waterfront. We have no firm idea of what it should look like but a competition could be held to come up with a suitable design.''

Another event suggested by the two councillors is for a full-size laser hologram of Titanic to be projected on a curtain of water at the ship's original berth in the city's Eastern Docks.

"If the city does not signal its intent to be the focal point for the all the worldwide commemorations in April 2012 it will be over-shadowed by more forward thinking authorities either in the UK, France, Ireland of the United States,'' said Mr Wakeford.