A ROYAL Navy aircraft carrier being billed as a possible new tourist attraction for Hull could visit the city early next year.
HMS Illustrious is due to be decommissioned next year after 32 years' service.
City leaders have already made it clear they would like to see the 22,000-tonne vessel brought to Hull's waterfront to create a permanent major new visitor attraction.
A project team to examine the feasibility of the idea is currently being set up.
Now, city council leader Steve Brady has revealed the carrier could visit Hull early next year, ahead of being decommissioned.
He recently went to see the vessel in Portsmouth with council chief executive Darryl Stephenson and University of Hull vice-chancellor Callie Pistorious, who came up with the idea of pitching Hull's case to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Councillor Brady said: "We met the ship's current crew and they were absolutely thrilled that Hull has put itself forward with a good plan behind it.
"They believe Hull would be the right place for it.
"We invited them to come here next spring to visit Hull and show the people of the city what they might be getting.
"Hopefully, that invitation will be accepted. I think people will be amazed when they see the sheer size of the ship.
"We had a tour and it was huge, with nine different decks."
Cllr Brady said he expected a bidding process for the ship to be announced by the MoD later this year. The Government says it wants to see "innovative proposals" to secure the long-term future of the carrier in a "legacy project".
Cllr Brady said: "About 30,000 people turned out when it visited Liverpool recently and I am sure the same numbers would be seen here.
"We have got to get through the bidding process but if we can get the ship here before it is decommissioned in the autumn of next year, it would be great."
The aircraft carrier visited London earlier this month to support the Royal Navy's Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary commemorations.
A reception and dinner held in the ship's main hangar during the visit raised more than £180,000 for two charities, Seafarers UK and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
