THIS is the mystery landmark tourist attraction proposed for Poole - a giant sundial called the Solar Pyramid.

Today the Daily Echo can reveal details of the enormous structure, which has been called the world's largest timepiece and the United Kingdom's largest artwork.

Originally proposed for a Derbyshire town and described as the most exciting "art meets science" project in the UK, its size for Poole is unconfirmed.

But the three polished steel wings could stretch 40-45 metres into the sky, casting a shadow across the 65-metre piazza, with the potential to attract 400,000 visitors a year.

The Borough of Poole has been approached by a private company eager to bring the world class attraction to the town, and has identified its waterside Harbourside Park (Baiter) as a potential location.

However the first reaction of Baiter resident and Parkstone Bay Association chairman David Howard was: "Over our dead bodies. I think residents will be rioting over this."

He said: "To even consider placing such an attraction' adjacent to a densely-populated residential area immediately bordering this park, is an act of irresponsibility."

It would use up most of our open space, cause traffic chaos and be an engineering nightmare to build on reclaimed land, he said.

"It has the smell of Dolphin Quays about it which started the same way - excluding the public, in smoke-filled rooms," he said.

Designed by leading engineers, astronomers and artists, the scientific sundial and fine art sculpture would loom over the town.

It would tower over the 20m Angel of the North, but would be dwarfed by Portsmouth's 170m Spinnaker Tower.

As well as being a tourist and education attraction, the project, where visitors would be able to explore time, would create a number of jobs.

Council leader Cllr Brain Leverett has welcomed it as an "exciting proposition" and said: "Early reactions have been extremely positive.

"However, before we can be certain that the Solar Pyramid would be right for Poole, a lot of assessment and evaluation work needs to be undertaken and work will progress over the next few months."

Project architect and artist Richard Lester Swain said: "The Solar Pyramid would be a thing of considerable beauty.

"It would be a piece of sculpture that offers people an opportunity for quiet reflection but combined with this it would have real scientific interest, an important educational role and it would contribute to the local economy."

It has the support of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and the high-tech sundial aims to create a moving demonstration of the link between time and space and the power of the sun on everyday life.