A YORK firm has designed a new attraction which is set to get the royal seal of approval.

Past Forward, based in Margaret Street, York, has completed the first phase of Fenscape, a tourist information and welcome centre in Spalding, Lincolnshire, which will be opened by the Princess Royal on June 24.

The firm, which is part of the Continuum Group, was appointed to take on the project by the Fens Tourism Group.

As part of the interior design, Past Forward created three larger-than-life sculptures to capture the essence of the Fens. These include reeds and rushes, local crops including barley and oil seed rape and giant flowers including daffodils, peapods and roses.

The business is now working on the second phase of Fenscape, a discovery centre that will tell the story of the landscape and its people.

The £1.2 million project is due for completion in August.

Lorna Ewan, projects director from Past Forward, said: "We are honoured and delighted the Princess Royal will be opening the Fenscape Tourist Information Centre.

"We are immensely proud of the sculptures in the centre, creating an impressive welcome and introduction to The Fens."

Updated: 09:59 Wednesday, June 16, 2004