THIS is the first view of the latest £1million ride scheduled to take centre stage at Southend's Adventure Island theme park by February next year.

Provisionally named the Aeronaut, it will run between two towers - one standing at 65 metres high, the other 35 metres - and stretch across the western half of the park.

The ride was the brainchild of German firm Fervec and Adventure Island general manager Robert Roberts.

The family-friendly attraction will be 200 feet above the amusement park, making it the highest ride there.

Mr Roberts said: "To put this into perspective, it will be three times higher than the Rage ride and 30 feet higher than the scaffolding presently covering the Palace Hotel.

"Customers will travel in cars built to the highest UK safety standards between the two masts.

"They will be interactive, so they will be able to control some of the movement of the flight path between the two masts.

"One of the beauties of this new ride is that, as almost all of it is in the air, it takes up hardly any space on the ground.

"None of the existing rides will have to go to make room for it, which is an important consideration at Adventure Island.

"Because we have considerable constraints on available space, it is important all we have is used to the best advantage."

Construction of the new ride will be overseen by independent engineering firm Richard James Associates, which will assess it continuously through both the design and construction stages, Mr Roberts added: "It is going to be absolutely user-friendly for almost all ages, with the high safety standards which are imposed on us, safe for anyone aged between six and 106.

"As the only ride of its type in the world, it is another first for Adventure Island and if all goes according to plan it will be open for the February half-term next year.

"The other beauty is that it is a simple ride in many ways - a new application of old technology."

Southend Council has yet to give planning permission for the two masts between which the ride will run.

The application is due to be considered by the development control committee at its September meeting.