A group of thrill-seekers from across the Atlantic will be coming to Southend to see if Adventure Island’s rollercoaster is really all the rage.

More than 170 rollercoaster fanatics of the American Coaster Enthusiasts will be doing an 11-day tour of the UK’s theme parks at the end of the month.

As part of their tour, they will be stopping off at Adventure Island to try out £2million rollercoaster Rage.

The theme park’s managing director Marc Miller said: “When the club first contacted us and told us about their tour, we jumped at the chance to showcase Adventure Island and our 60-plus rides and attractions.

“Blue Peter rated Rage as the ‘Most Thrilling Roller Coaster in Great Britain’, so we’re all looking forward to seeing how the ACEmembers react to it and our other exciting experiences.”

The ACE UK tour, which sees the group of 171 Americans, plus whiteknuckle ride fans from Canada and Germany, will see them reach Adventure Island on July 28.

Although smaller than their American counterparts, the UK offers several high-profile roller coasters, and the tour will see them visit Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and even Legoland Windsor.

ACE president Jerry Willard said: “This tour is going to be amazing.

“With 11 non-stop days of coaster riding, our members are really going to see the full range: Wonderful historic coasters and the newest, modern thrillers.

“We have a soft spot for nostalgic wooden coasters, and with so many great ones in the UK, it is going to be a trip of a lifetime.”

Rage was installed in 2007 by a German company, and it has clearance for children of 1.2 metres of height – much lower than other traditional white knuckle rides, which have a 1.6 threshold.

This will be the American group’s first tour of the UK since it was set up in 2002.