THEY were scaling new heights in Southampton to help highlight the city's millennium celebrations.

A 25ft high climbing tower was erected outside the Bargate by the Southampton Millennium Trust, which is planning to help local communities celebrate the advent of the 21st century.

The trust is theming its year 2000 projects around the idea of bringing young and old together, and the climbing tower was available to all climbers willing to try their hand at swarming up the structure - in a safe atmosphere.

The trust is gearing up for the city's Millennium Festival, which takes place between July 7 and 16 next year, and the tower was one of its bids to highlight its work.

The mobile climbing system was operated by qualified instructors of Activate Outdoor Limited and the activity was sponsored and supported by the City Centre management group.

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