POOLE'S head of tourism believes the town must look to a major new attraction to enable it to compete with local rivals and cheap trips abroad.

Graham Richardson said he remained "open-minded" to what type of attraction may be suitable after plans for the controversial Solar Pyramid were binned.

He said although the town had much to offer, it faced stiff competition both locally and internationally.

"We have the largest harbour in the Northern Hemisphere and the best beaches in Britain," he said.

"But there are lots of other places nearby, like the Jurassic Coast and the New Forest, with terrific environments, so we do need to remain competitive.

"Not only has there been a rise in cheap flights, but also the fact people can now fly from Bournemouth means they don't have to get to Heathrow, Gatwick or wherever."

Although the town still draws in more than 2.5 million tourists each year, the Quay and High Street areas of the town are in need of a boost. Visitor numbers on the Quay have steadily dwindled in the last decade after a series of blows.

"We've lost the Poole Pottery tour, the aquarium and the Poole Museum was closed for two years," said Mr Richardson.

"The Quayside complex has stalled, when the original intention of providing a retail outlet would have been a huge draw.

"The town's draws have been diminished and it is within our tourism strategy to seek a large-scale attraction."

Poole's economy is strongly dependent on tourism, with the industry providing 4,800 jobs and a £200 million income.