THE bid to save Sir Thomas Brisbane's Largs observatory has received Royal backing.

HRH Prince Charles has indicated that he would be willing to support in principal the effort to save the historic structure as an international SOS was la

The surprise news came during an international SOS to back Sir Thomas Brisbane's legacy in Largs and capitalise on the historic links with Australia and global astronomy.

Descendant of the Brisbane family, Major General Sir Seymour Monro has said that with having gained The Duke of Rothesay's interest in the project, it was vital that the council, government and influential groups, businesses and the public rally behind the plan to help push it forward.

David Muir, the chair of Australia's Clem Jones Trust, flew into Scotland to discuss how the links between Largs and Brisbane can be use to boost tourism.

Sir Thomas Brisbane was born and died in Largs and helped found the city named after him whilst he was the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825.

Major General Monro, who is President of the Brisbane Observatory Trust, gave an impassioned speech at the Woodhouse Hotel in Largs in front of influential dignitaries and told how he had contact Prince Charles asking for his support to try and save Brisbane Observatory.

He revealed that the private secretary for the prince has written back and indicated he would be willing to 'help raise the profile' of the observatory.

Major Monro said: "Sir Thomas was an outstanding astronomer and scientist. He was a great benefactor to Largs - and now the new Largs Academy has named its conference room after him so his name endures in educational circles. We are now looking for some local support and make no mistake, if we do not succeed in our quest for funding, a place of historical and international significance in the Brisbane Observatory will become a ruin."

As well as fundraising to preserve the observatory, options including looking at building a statue of Brisbane and providing heritage trails in the town.

An education link up between schools in Brisbane and Largs has also been suggested with the possibility of setting up exchanges similar to the Brisbane Queen festival in Largs in the 1990s.

Mr Muir added: "The legacy of Sir Thomas Brisbane, from helping to cure the town of cholera to building a school, is quite extraordinary.

"The Largs project is very important to the Clem Jones Trust. Sir Thomas has a wonderful military, philanthropic and astronomical history- it is an exciting story and once people in Largs, Brisbane and Scotland in general are more aware of it, it can help generate a lot more interest and open up tourism opportunities."

North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson said he would assign council officers to see what he could do to help.

Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson told how one of his first duties when elected in 2007 was to crown the Brisbane Queen.

He has drawn up a list of potential 91 funding bodies that the Trust can apply to for funding.

MP Patricia Gibson added: "This is a man of real inspiration who put Largs on to world stage. I think there is a lot that the council can do to support that and we can write letters of support for grants that are applied for."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch also enthusiastically backed the project.

He said: "I am very pleased that David Muir has come all the way from Australia and I am pleased to hear that the provost will try and push this forward."