HUNDREDS of thousands of tourists could be attracted to Wirral if plans for a unique multi-million pound international astronomy centre win the go-ahead.

A partnership of Merseytravel, Mersey Ferries and Liverpool John Moores University is bidding for funding for the £8 million-plus centre which would be the first of its kind nationally.

The plan is to convert a listed building at Seacombe Ferry into the new state-of-the-art centre which should attract 100,000 people a year, according to partnership figures.

Mersey Ferries boss Paul Burnell says: "Everybody involved in the project is very enthused about it. It will bring a lot to the tourism package of Wirral and, of course, to Seacombe. It is quite a significant project.

"If all goes well with the funding we are hopeful we can start building in November or December this year and launch by spring 2003."

As well as bringing in tourist cash, the centre will also provide a resource for local schoolchildren and students.

The proposal has received backing from the nation's top astronomers, including TV celebrity Patrick Moore, as it would be the only astronomy education centre in the country.

It will feature live views from telescopes in Australia and Hawaii and there will be different parts of the sky on view depending on when you visit.

There are also plans for a theatre that will take visitors on a 'voyage through space', a time machine exhibit, the Galileo history theatre, children's activity areas, cafes, shops and special exhibits.

The centre is part of a massive planned development across the Wirral waterfront that may also include a four or five star hotel.

It is dependent on successful bids for Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and European Objective One funding. It is hoped decisions will be made on the funding within six weeks.