The police were on hand but this time they just smiled, as 'Spiderman' Alain Robert prepared to climb 'bare-handed' up the 45-storey, 176m-high Suntec Tower One.

In 2000, they had arrested Mr Robert, a Frenchman, just as he reached the 23rd storey of the 63-storey Overseas Union Bank building in Raffles Place.

Yesterday's feat before a 15,000-strong crowd of enthralled watchers was legal this time though.

The lithe 46-year-old complied with local laws: he wore a safety harness, just as he had when he scaled the 18-storey office block at Great World City in 1997.

Yesterday's event at Suntec was part of The Straits Times' 163rd anniversary celebrations. Clad in a pair of bright orange trousers, a white Straits Times polo shirt and climbing shoes, Mr Robert gulped down a can of Coke before making his ascent at 5pm.

As he scaled the Suntec tower panel by panel, the crowd cheered. Almost everyone had a camera in hand to capture the action. A few had lugged along giant telephoto lenses too.

Children watched with mouths agape and no one bothered to run for cover when it drizzled. When Mr Robert reached the top after an hour of strenuous climbing, the crowd whistled and applauded. He later said: 'I feel a little tired, not because of the climb but because of the heat and humidity here.' Showing off five blisters on his fingers, he gave Suntec Tower One a five out of 10 for difficulty.

Said Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang: 'We're delighted to be able to bring this amazing act to our readers. The support from our readers is what has kept The Straits Times going all these years and the huge turnout today at Suntec was a great example of this.'

Mr S.K. Heng, 89, was one of those who went to watch Mr Robert in action. The retired administrative officer had read about him in The Straits Times and had asked his family to accompany him to Suntec.

'I wanted to see how he climbed the tower. He must have a lot of courage to climb so high,' he said.

Mr Robert has made headlines elsewhere for his illegal high jinks.

Two months ago, he scaled the New York Times building and was arrested upon reaching the top. Last year, he climbed the Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, then spent five days in jail and has since been banned from entering China.

In 2000, when he was arrested here, the police nabbed him by trapping him in between two open windows on the 23rd storey of the Overseas Union Bank building.

Mr Robert's exciting climb yesterday was followed by a grand lucky draw in which a lucky Straits Times reader won a new Volkswagen Touran Sport 1.3 TSI car worth $79,480. The winning lot was drawn by Mr Han and Dr Olaf Duebel, managing director of Volkswagen Group Singapore.

Accounts executive Ng Hai Chwee, 46, went home with the car, much to her surprise and delight.

Said Ms Ng, who has a driving licence but no car: 'I have two children, so having a car will definitely be convenient for my family.'

ndianah@sph.com.sg