THE owner of Sandiway's most famous landmark has finally been revealed - as John Prescott.

Village leaders have been trying to find out who owns the Round Tower for almost a decade.

But after calling on their MP, Sir Alastair Goodlad, they discovered it actually belongs to Tony Blair's right-hand man.

"It was quite a surprise, not just to find out that Mr Prescott is in charge of the tower, but also that Sir Alastair got so far so quickly with an inquiry we've been labouring with for nearly 10 years," said Sandiway councillor Bernard Burton.

"It pays to know the right people, I suppose."

Control of the structure, which stands at the eastern end of the village, passed into the hands of the Highways Agency when the A556 was built in the 1950s.

The agency agreed to manage the land on behalf of what was then the Department of Transport, the ministry now run by Mr Prescott.

The council called on Sir Alastair last month, following years of fruitless searching for the deeds.

And within a week, he had met with Mr Prescott, who rooted out the relevant information.

Sir Alastair said: "I was just happy to be of some service to the village, as it prepares for the millennium."

Now the council wants to spruce up the tower - actually called Tower Lodge - in time for the Year 2000.

And Mr Prescott has pledged to find out what can be done to improve it without harming the road conditions.

Sir Alastair said the tower would make a perfect millennium project.

"For years, I've driven past wondering what the thing really is," he added.

"I'm sure there are many others who have done the same thing. So if it can be renovated in some way to make it more prominent, all well and good."

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