Ambitious plans for a multi-million pound development on Southend Pier including a 262ft rollercoaster are still on the cards.

Businessman Tony Garner reaffirmed his desire to breathe life into the troubled tourist attraction, despite parts of it being destroyed by fire last year.

He is still keen to build the ride despite an announcement by Adventure Island owner Philip Miller that he will build a 72ft high rollercoaster of his own in his fun park.

Mr Garner said: "It will not affect my plans at all.

"We are talking about having a 262ft lift.

"I doubt he could get such a big one on to Adventure Island."

Mr Garner's firm Epic World Leisure has wanted to create an Atlantis City of rides, bars, restaurants, and other attractions at the pierhead for some time, but has never been able to agree terms with Southend Council.

However, the council is presently waiting for insurance money from the pier fire to come through so it can afford to develop the attraction, which could provide Mr Garner with an opportunity to finally make his ambitions a reality.

He said: "We have always kept the council informed of our commitment to try to do something with Southend Pier.

"We are continuing to express this interest to the council."

The centrepiece of the Atlantis City project would be the giant Swine rollercoaster, which Mr Garner believes would attract thrill seekers from far and wide.

Southend Council leader Murray Foster thought it unlikely Mr Garner's plan would be looked at again, because it was rejected last year in a bidding process which selected the failed Riviera Consortium scheme.

However, if Mr Garner has new plans, the council would be willing to talk.

Mr Foster said: "We feel we have no cause to revisit the companies that were not successful.

"That does not mean we will not relook at them if they have something new to offer."

He added: "We will get the actual structure of the pier right, then we will look at the superstructure on top.

"We are on the case, but are not in direct negotiations with anyone at the moment."

Mr Foster said the council is currently looking into the pier's past and the work previously done on developing it.