Plans are being made to spend �6m on expanding Hull's sealife visitor centre, The Deep.

The attraction opened in March 2002 and has already had 800,000 visitors.

Covered queuing areas are being planned, as well as a larger shopping area and a new display about the twilight zone of the oceans.

The Deep was funded by the Millennium Commission at a cost of �45m and it is being asked to contribute to the new building work along with the European Union.

Tourism destination

David Gemmell, the chairman of The Deep said: "The Deep has proved that Hull is now taken seriously as a tourism destination.

"It has been compared favourably with some of the finest aquariums in the world such as Barcelona, Lisbon and Sydney.

"This new development will give The Deep the opportunity to eclipse even these."

A final decision of whether the expansion can go ahead is expected in April.