THE Millennium candle, which was snuffed out despite becoming a focal point, may return.

The flame in Bournemouth Square became the spot where people gathered or laid floral tributes at times of national unity, such as the September 11 attacks. But it was switched off in 2006 amid mounting fuel bills and concerns about the environmental cost.

Now a planning application has been lodged to replace the original gas flame with an electrically-powered, glowing globe, which will use less power than a standard light bulb and would change colour every five seconds.

The Rev David Craig, one of the trustees at the Bournemouth Flame Christian Trust, said: "If we get planning permission, there's nothing to hold us back from getting on with it."

Supporters came up with the new design after rejecting a host of alternatives, including the idea of shining a thin beam of light into the sky.

The Millennium Candle, as it was originally called, was a gift to the town from its churches in 2000 to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. It was originally due to be switched off at the end of 2000, but funding was found to keep it alight.

The flame was finally extinguished in June 2006 when escalating gas prices meant it was costing £8,000 a year.

Mr Craig said: "The delay has simply been trying to find something that ticks all the boxes in terms of being environmentally appropriate and having something that can't be abused in terms of vandalism."

Canon Jim Richardson, town centre rector for Bournemouth, was at the forefront of the campaign to erect the candle.

He said: "The millennium memorial was designed for Bournemouth and is a very fine piece of sculpture. I would have been very disappointed to see it removed and just dumped or melted down.

"It speaks to the soul in some way. Bournemouth is not just about materialism."

Central ward councillor Bob Chapman said: "I'm quite sympathetic if a low-energy way of keeping the flame could be found."