VISITORS to Southampton and local people alike will now, quite literally, be able to walk in the footsteps of one of the country's greatest authors.

The Jane Austen Heritage Trail has now been firmly established in the city, bringing together areas and buildings closely associated with the writer during the time she spent in Southamp-ton.

A special pamphlet, written by local historian Arthur Jeffery, all about Jane Austen has been produced by the City of Southampton Society in conjunction with the heritage trail, which starts at the Bargate, where a plaque tells of Austen's first visit to the city as a schoolgirl, aged seven, together with her cousin.

Next is the site of the old All Saints Church in the High Street on the corner with East Street, where the author, who lived from 1775 until 1817, would attend services at the one-time Georgian building lost during the Second World War bombing.

The Spa Gardens site, Arundel Circus, is where the spa fountain and botantical gardens were once located, and it was here that Jane and her family walked almost daily.

Public house Jane's house, 2 Castle Square, was where the Bosun's Locker public house now stands, and it was here that she lived from early 1807 until April, 1809.

On a site close to the present day Quays swimming complex the Austens once attended the Long Room, where dances were held on four nights every week.

The old Theatre Royal, once near to the Mediaeval Merchant's House, was a favourite of Jane and her family, and it is known that they attended a production there on September 14, 1807.

Water Gate Quay was where Jane and her relatives set off to Hythe by boat to visit a Mrs and Miss Palmer, who were staying on the other side of Southampton Water.

According to the research by the City of Southampton Society, the crossing must have been calm as "Mama was not at all sick'' wrote Fanny Knight, Jane's niece, in her diary.

The Platform, commonly known as the beach, was a promenade which curved round to Cross House Quay and was a popular tree-lined walk for all Southampton people.

In the winter of 1807, Frank, Jane's brother, discovered that the meadow land, now known as Queen's Park, was sufficiently frozen to try out ice-skating.

The final place on the heritage trail is the Dolphin Hotel in High Street, a building visited by the Austens that still remains today, and where, it is said, Jane celebrated her 18th birthday at a dance in the first-floor ballroom.