SIR Richard Branson is to launch the city's campaign to entice visitors to stay a little longer.

That is certainly a coup, especially as the entrepreneur, never one to shy from the camera, will arrive on a replica of Stephenson's Rocket, closely followed by one of his new Virgin Voyager trains.

The only possible downside to this happy scenario is that cynics in the audience may be moved to mutter about the Rocket being more likely to arrive on time than one of Mr Branson's trains.

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, September 24, 2002