Throughout the month of March, a series of special tours will bring the story of Titanic - and the people who built her back to life.

Bus and boat tours will explore the Belfast of the Titanic era, telling the story of the mighty vessel and her two sisters ships, Olympic and Britannic.

The bus tours will leave from Belfast City Hall at 11am and 2pm each Saturday and Sunday throughout March - with daily tours operating at the same times daily between Saturday, March 22 and Saturday, March 29.

The tour will take in all of the key locations associated with the Titanic story, including the Drawing Offices, where the plans for Titanic and hundreds of other ships were conceived and developed; the Slipway, where the Titanic rose majestically on the Belfast skyline, and the Thompson Dry Dock and Pump House, which were built especially for the Olympic class liners.

Each bus tour is free but tickets from Belfast Welcome Centre are needed. The tour lasts around two hours and appropriate footwear and clothing are recommended. The bus tour is not suitable for children under seven years of age.

The ever popular Titanic boat tours will also continue throughout March, leaving Donegall Quay at 12.30pm and 2pm each Saturday and Sunday. Additional tours also take place during Easter week at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 5pm daily.

Once again, the boat tour takes in the key landmarks associated with the Titanic story - including the Hamilton Dock, Alexandra Dock and Thompson Dock - this time from the waters of the River Lagan and Belfast Harbour. Tickets for the boat tours are on sale at the Lagan Boat Company office at Donegall Quay. The ticket office opens from 10am to 5pm daily on tour days.

This year a major new Titanic exhibition is also being staged in W5 at the Odyssey, during next month.

Titanic - designed and Built in Belfast will celebrate Belfast's golden age of shipbuilding, with a collection of memories that have been key to the ship's eternal appeal for generations.

The exhibition will form the centrepiece of the seventh Titanic Made in Belfast festival, organised by Belfast City Council, which begins on March 22 and continues until March 29.