LEISURE bosses in Southampton were due to hold a top-level meeting today with civic leaders from Nova Scotia, where hundreds of victims of the Titanic tragedy are buried.

The discussions will centre on how the Canadian province and Southampton can co-operate in the 100th anniversary commemorations, due to take place in April 2012.

Other cities taking part in the events leading up to the anniversary will include New York, where the giant liner was bound on its maiden voyage when it sank with the loss of more that 1,500 lives.

Liverpool, where the ship was registered, the French port of Cherbourg, and Cork - the liner's last port of call before it set sail into history - will also be involved in the anniversary events.

City leisure bosses are hoping that thousands of tourists visiting Britain in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics will stop off in Southampton because of the anniversary of the tragic sinking.

Yesterday, the Daily Echo revealed how an iconic memorial - designed to be as impressive as Tyneside's Angel of the North - could be built in the city to commemorate the disaster.

Other ideas planned for the anniversary of the tragedy include a giant 3D hologram of the doomed liner projected over Southampton Water in April 2012 and the appointment of a high-profile media personality, who will act as the city's "Titanic Champion" and promote Southampton as a tourist destination.

At a consultation meeting last night, the city's Cabinet member for tourism and leisure Councillor Peter Wakeford revealed that in-depth consultations had also been held with Belfast, where the vessel was built in 1911.

He said: "We have also had the opportunity to speak with the town of Halifax in Nova Scotia. They are very keen to play a part.

"A lot of work needs to be done to take the ideas forward. One of the most important things that we, Belfast and Halifax recognise is that this was a tragedy.

"More than 1,500 lives were lost and 549 were Southampton residents, mostly crew. We have to remember there are families still alive today who will remember the loss of their grandfathers or even their fathers in the disaster. We have to do any commemorations sensitively.

"We also have to remember that this is a major international story."

Leader of Southampton City Council's Conservative group Councillor Alec Samuels said the Titanic story should be made accessible to young people and could even form part of the school curriculum.

"That might be a way of interesting young people," he said.

The proposals to commemorate the disaster will be brought forward to Cabinet for final decision in two weeks' time.

First published Friday 11 November 2005