IT can make the lives of Hampshire motorists a misery.

For many it means rush hour traffic, snaking queues and irate drivers.

However, to a few enthusiasts the Mitchell Way roundabout in Eastleigh is a thing of beauty.

The Roundabout Appreciation Society likes it so much they have selected it to represent September in the Best of British Roundabouts Calendar 2011.

The landmark monument soars about 25ft above the busy road with the twothirds scale model of the Second World War fighter prototype supported by metal poles and seen by thousands every day.

It was put up by Eastleigh Borough Council in 2004 with a contribution from Southampton’s Mercedes Benz Garage and Premier Lodge at a cost of £70,000.

The new pin-up is still owned by the authority and is maintained by Southampton International Airport.

The roundabout society president Kevin Beresford – who likes to be known as Lords of the Rings in homage to his unusual hobby – lavished praise on the piece of road furniture.

He said: “Every year we get hundreds of submitted photos and nominations.

It is quite an accolade and Hampshire should be proud they have a roundabout that has made the grade.

“While it is a bit of fun it is also a genuine interest and we do sit around the pub discussing them.

Some like green ones with foliage but I prefer ones like this.

“I produced the first calendar ten years ago because I wanted something different from the usual Lucy Pinder or Wayne Rooney ones and it took off.

“We seem to have tapped into a British sense of quirkiness.”

Following on from the success of his roundabout series the group now produce calendars on car parks, prisons and even roadkill.

The Eastleigh roundabout will be in good company as others that have made the list over the years include the famously confusing magic roundabout in Swindon, Haverhill, that features a light and laser show, and Litchfield, which is the site of a popular pub.

Eastleigh Local Area Committee provided the £40,000 council contribution at the time.

Chairman Chris Thomas said: “We are delighted that this innovative piece of public art depicting an original prototype of the Spitfire has been recognised in a national calendar.

“The structure is a stunning tribute to commemorate our strong aviation heritage.”

The steel and aluminium blue structure modelled from the original 1930s engineering and designs of the famous Spitfire prototype K5054 is a tribute to the iconic plane that took its maiden flight out of Southampton Airport.

It was made by Southampton artist Alan Manning and finished at Moodys Boatyard, Swanwick.

It was opened six years ago by then mayor Glynn Davies-Dear, former airport boss David Cumming and Gordon Mitchell, now late son of creator Reginald Joseph Mitchell.

Visit roundaboutsofbritain.com for more information on the calendar.