Ananova:

The Millennium Dome could yet reopen as a visitor attraction after the Government ditched plans to turn the ill-fated site into a business city and invited rival bids.

No sooner had the Government dropped Legacy as its preferred bidder, than former Dome boss Pierre-Yves Gerbeau said he may try to keep it as a tourist attraction within weeks.

Another rival consortium, involving the Duke of Westminster's Grosvenor company, said it had been in discussions with the BBC, the Tussaud Group and showbiz impresario Harvey Goldsmith.

A Downing Street spokesman said there had been 70 expressions of interest in the Dome in recent weeks and some were "serious, heavyweight proposals".

Legacy chief executive Robert Bourne said he was "surprised and disappointed" the Government had turned down his scheme for a high-tech "Knowledge City" at the Dome.

The Government said Legacy had not met the terms required and, although Legacy could now rebid, other interested parties would be invited to come forward.

This paves the way for a bid by Mr Gerbeau, 35, who was chief executive of the Dome operating body the New Millennium Experience, from February 2000 until last month.

Mr Gerbeau said: "This is very exciting news. We have the business plan to run the Dome and the creative vision to make it a success. We will now go forward with putting the backers together to rent or buy the Dome.

"Our plan is to combine a world-class visitor attraction with a global entertainment venue. That will keep the Dome as a public building and is the best possible outcome. Subject to new competition rules, we will be in a position to table a formal bid within weeks rather than months."

Last month, Mr Gerbeau spoke of inviting top showbiz and sporting stars to the Dome, including the three remaining Beatles, Madonna, Michael Jackson and boxing champion Lennox Lewis.