THE York firm which runs the city's famous Jorvik Viking attraction has been invited to operate Portsmouth's exciting new Spinnaker Tower.

Heritage Projects Ltd, based in a former schoolhouse in St Edmund's House, Margaret Street, has been appointed by Portsmouth City Council to take charge of the 165 ft sail-like structure as soon as it is completed in mid-2004.

Taller than the London Eye or Blackpool Tower, the nautical-style Spinnaker Tower will be seen from as far away as the Isle of Wight. It will have two viewing platforms, including a slow-moving glass elevator outside and an express elevator within.

Architects plan two elegant crossed bows made out of structural steel boxed sections that cross between the shafts at 114 ft and then rise to connect again at 393 ft.

Heritage, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, will lease the site, and develop and fund the visitor experience which is expected to open to the public next summer and attract 600,000 visitors a year.

The project adds to a growing management portfolio for Heritage which also owns visitor attractions Canterbury Tales and the Oxford Experience and recently opened the Real Mary Kings Close in Edinburgh.

Heritage and Portsmouth City Council will jointly promote the tower to a worldwide audience as an international icon - the South's dramatic answer to the Angel of the North.

Coun Phil Shaddock, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: "We are very impressed by Heritage Project's plans for the visitor experience. Under this deal, both the city council and Heritage will share in the success of the tower, but more importantly, visitors will have another great attraction to visit in Portsmouth."

Juliana Delaney, managing director of Heritage, said the tower would be the centrepiece of the £86 million Portsmouth harbour redevelopment which, with the help of the Millennium Commission aims to transform Portsmouth and Gosport into one of Europe's top waterfront destinations.

"We will offer visitors to the Spinnaker Tower a spectacular 23-mile view at an immense height from an amazing tower," she said.

Updated: 10:44 Friday, July 25, 2003