A DESIGN competition is to be organised for an innovative and inspiring civic space in Worcester if the city council is successful with a £25m Lottery bid.

The local authority envisages an area that will "cascade" down towards the waterfront and will provide a natural setting for events.

Ideas already put forward include using the railway viaduct as a dramatic backdrop, with large-scale visual art linked to specially commissioned light and laser displays.

Public contests such as this are becoming more common now. Recent examples include a sculpture in Nottingham and the Perth Concert Hall in Scotland.

The most famous this century was probably that to replace the twin towers of the destroyed World Trade Centre in New York.

Worcester City Council's chief executive David Wareing said: "We want the new civic space to be a real living landmark, not a monument.

"Therefore it is important that it enables and creates an environment not just for hosting music and arts events but one that is dynamic and becomes a place where people can meet and relax or simply enjoy as they move about from one part of the city to the other.

"We would also like suggestions from the public for a name for the square."

The other main elements of the plan are three new footbridges, a new 'gateway' to the city centre at Sidbury and general riverside enhancements, and a viewing platform.

More detail about Worcester waterfront plans can be found by visiting the council website at www.cityofworcester.

gov.uk where people can also leave their own comments and suggestions.

Alternatively, mobile phone users can text WOW plus their comments to 64446.

The Living Landmarks initiative is a one-off scheme by the National Lottery.

About £140m is on offer but only six applicants from an expected 100 bids will be successful, each of them being awarded approximately £25m.

The Worcester bid has to be submitted in January and the city will discover in spring if it has passed the first hurdle.

send us your views and you could win £20

Worcester City Council is giving out blown-up, fake, £20 notes to Worcester residents and offering them the chance to win the real thing.

It has been given permission by the Bank of England to print enlarged versions of the notes - which feature a picture of Worcester Cathedral and Worcestershire composer Sir Edward Elgar on the back - on to cardboard.

Thousands of copies of the 'Worcester' money will be distributed across the city and members of the public are being asked to send them back with their views on the project.

As a thank you to those that respond, the council will draw 10 names from a hat and present the lucky winners with a real note in the New Year.