South Bank Skylon plan

A plan to recreate the Skylon - a 290ft tower of light which was the symbol of the post-war Festival of Britain - could be a stunning addition to the South Bank, it was revealed today. The proposal from the Royal Academy would put the internallylit, aluminium-clad rocket-shaped sphere on the site of its predecessor close to the Royal Festival Hall.

Royal Academy president Professor Philip King said: "It would work marvellously against the wheel of the London Eye."

Today the South Bank Centre's chief executive Mike Lynch said: "We would look at it as part of our plans for the wider redevelopment of the South Bank site."