THE ancients attached great importance to the so-called Seven Wonders of the World. Two mythical structures that readily spring to mind are the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Many cities reflect on past glories, and Worcester - while not exactly Rome - is one of them. But let us share a fantasy.

Three new bridges, a landmark public square, a space that could double up as an amphitheatre in the summer and an ice rink in winter, plus a Sidbury "gateway" feature... there's no doubt that Worcester could be heading for a renaissance.

All this would depend on Lottery cash. But this newspaper believes that if the citizens and their representatives really push hard, the dream could become reality.

And why not? Everything's happening in Worcester at the moment. The university has just unveiled its plans for Castle Street and the Diglis Basin area is also undergoing a major facelift.

Of course, we are not suggesting that the Faithful City is about to rival the best our ancestors could offer - yet day by day, the evidence does appear to be stacking up.

For imagine a city where traffic congestion was a thing of the past, a county seat in which its citizens might actually prefer walking to driving, and a place that made the most of its riverside setting.

Oh yes, and one other thing - a lighthouse is also envisaged for the western quayside. So who knows? We could become the Severn Wonder of the World.