given the green light yesterday.

The futuristic tourism village planned for Daniel's Head has cleared the first hurdle after backers gave a presentation to the Bermuda Land Development Corporation.

The ambitious project includes solar-panelled houses, recycling workshops and an education centre -- including field trip accommodation for worldwide university students.

Now executives from the BLDC will work on an agreement for the resort with American-based developers Campers Villages LLC.

The idea has been developed by entrepreneur Stanley Selengut, who has built similar eco-resorts in the US Virgin Islands.

He told The Royal Gazette last month that the University of South Carolina and Colorado State University had already expressed interest in sending students to Bermuda for courses in "sustainable development''.

But the main aim was to attract green-minded tourists to the Island, he added.

Mr. Selengut flew to Bermuda for a two-day stop on Tuesday -- and presented his blueprint for the future to the BLDC board.

The BLDC directors, responsible for development on all the former baselands, gave the go-ahead for the Daniel's Head plans after meeting Mr. Selengut and his co-developer Lew Geyser.

Eco-tourism boost for Bermuda Now Mr. Selengut and Mr. Geyser will return to Bermuda in March to iron out their proposals for the 17-acre site.

A BLDC spokesman said: "We believe the development has strong potential to strengthen Bermuda tourism and to boost business and employment, particularly in the West End, as well as to significantly restore the natural environment at Daniel's Head through landscaping and planting.

"Eco-tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism market.

The Campers Village proposal will attract a new type of visitor to the Island, one who is specifically interested in environmental education and nature-based activities.'' He said Mr. Selengut was "widely regarded as the pre-eminent builder and operator of eco-tourism resorts'' and had won awards from the American Society of Travel Agents.

The Daniel's Head plan includes a wooden cottage colony with solar panels and furniture made of recycled materials.

There would also be a major landscaping project and wildlife conservation area.

Mr. Selengut is already planing another green holiday centre in Hawaii, based on the Bermuda model.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell said: "A location like Daniel's Head is a natural for an opportunity that is unique and something like eco-tourism fits the bill.

"Just to put a traditional hotel on that site would not be taking advantage of the site itself.'' POLCE ARREST BEGGAR AFTER ATTACK CRM Police arrest beggar after attack Police have questioned a 27-year-old Pembroke man in connection with an assault on a man on Parliament Street.

The assailant reportedly repeatedly approached the complainant on Wednesday afternoon on Church and Parliament streets for one dollar.

The beggar, allegedly in an unprovoked attack, punched and kicked the man in the leg, stomach and face.

The victim was able to make his way to the Hamilton Police Station and was able to give a description of his assailant.

Police eventually saw a man fitting the description and arrested him.