The tower is already a major landmark in the city

On Thursday, Portsmouth City Council said a handover date could not be confirmed until problems with the external lift had been fixed.

It had been expecting to take control of the harbour-side tower on Thursday.

Last week, developers Mowlem said work on the tower would be completed in seven days.

The tower is five years late and has cost taxpayers an extra �10m.

The harbour centre-piece was originally planned to be completed in time for the new Millennium.

But it has suffered years of problems and spiralling costs.

Its operators missed out on potential income from thousands of visitors to the Trafalgar 200 and International Festival of the Sea events, which were both held earlier in the summer.