A 60-METRE London Eye-style big wheel could attract up to a million visitors to one of the region's most historic cities, it was claimed yesterday.

The National Railway Museum, in York, has applied for planning permission to build the observation wheel on its Leeman Road site.

If City of York Council backs the application, the £3m wheel could be up and running by Easter next year, offering visitors dramatic views of the city centre, including York Minster.

The bid is a joint venture between the museum and World Tourist Attractions.

The company has been trying to bring a giant wheel to York since January, but was forced to withdraw its first application after local residents and conservationists objected to the proposed site in Tower Gardens, near Clifford's Tower.

Yesterday, museum boss Andrew Scott said the wheel could attract up to a million visitors and would create about 30 jobs.

He said: "We're very proud of what York has to offer as one of Europe's most beautiful cities and as a leading sight-seeing destination.

"The wheel would not only provide a fantastic opportunity to see the city as it has never been seen before, but would also bring many more visitors to York to enjoy all it has to offer.

"We believe that the NRM can offer an ideal site for such a new attraction because it could make full use of the existing museum facilities."

World Tourist Attractions have already set up similar 365-tonne wheels in Manchester and Birmingham. They have 42 capsules, which can accommodate up to eight people at a time and boast 50,000 light bulbs.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "York's potential new attraction would provide a great opportunity to promote and encourage repeat visitors to the city.

"Evidence from destinations that already have a wheel suggests that they are a very popular way of seeing the cityscape from a different perspective."

The museum hopes to receive a decision on the planning application by December.