ADVENTURE Island bosses have been in Italy testing out a "thrilling" new ride coming to the Southend seafront attraction this year.

A new 38-metre drop tower - aptly named Vertigo - is "coming soon" to the Western Esplanade theme park, and bosses Marc and Philip Miller have been in Italy today to try out the 16-seater Visa model.

Philip Miller, CEO of Adventure Island, has shared videos on X - formerly Twitter - of the new ride which is taller than the City Wheel.

Exciting times for ⁦@Adv_Island⁩ pic.twitter.com/0sYEUQVs8U

Earlier this year, an Adventure Island spokesman revealed: “Despite the winter chill, we're hard at work building the foundations for our thrilling new drop tower, set to elevate your experience this year.”

Mr Miller said the ride will be cycled as a rotating viewing tower on occasion, after the success of the City Wheel with older park visitors.

Sharing his view from the top of the drop tower today, he added: "Beautiful view from the top. One of the additional programs will be for my age group just up down and round!"

While the bosses are still yet to reveal when it will open, Adventure Island released an animation video of the new ride last weekend teasing that it is "coming soon".