The Continuum Group has been awarded a contract to design, project manage and operate a heritage attraction at Mary King's Close in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh City Council selected the group as preferred developer and operator for the project, which comprises a series of underground vaults and streets just off the Royal Mile.

The group, comprising Heritage Projects, the operators of JORVIK, and designers and project managers, Past Forward, plan to use a mix of tableaux, graphics, tour guides and audio video techniques to tell the story of this 17th century underground city.

'The area is completely undeveloped, as if time has trapped it beneath modern buildings' says managing director of Heritage Projects, Juliana Delaney. 'We want to take this untouched area and present its story in a modern way that visitors can understand.'

The group will develop the project over the next 12 months with a view to opening the attraction in spring 2003. Details: +44 (0)1904 527766