PLANS for the UK's longest indoor ski slope – to be built in Weston-super- Mare – have been unveiled at a public exhibition.

Developer LeisureDome revealed its grand £50-million plans to build an all- year-round venue, which would also host extreme sports, at Weston Football Club yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of people attended the one-day exhibition to get a glimpse of what the dome – the first in the region – will look like if planning permission is given by North Somerset Council.

As well as a 210-metre (690ft) indoor snow-covered ski slope, the centre, which would be called the LeisureDome, would also have an indoor climbing centre with the longest climbing face in the country, a skateboard and BMX park, a freefall centre simulating a sky diving experience and an indoor surf simulator.

A health club, children's activity zone and crèche are also included in the plans, along with sports shops, cafes and restaurants.

The centre would form part of the Locking Parklands regeneration area to the north of Locking village.

The original idea had been to build the ski slope on the airfield of the former RAF Locking site but the nearby Parklands area was chosen instead after being identified by North Somerset Council as a strategic regeneration opportunity.

If given the go-ahead it would be sited on 12.7 acres of land along the eastern side of the site and built over three floors, with a floor space of about 356,000 square feet, fronting onto a development of housing, business and community buildings.

Clive Hamilton-Davies, director of LeisureDome (UK) Ltd, said: "LeisureDome has the potential to attract more than 500,000 visitors in its first year of opening.

"It would also generate wider associated tourism benefits for Weston."

The ski centre would also be a key employer, creating around 583 new jobs – not including the temporary jobs created by the construction work.