PLANS for a new seafront big wheel and drop tower to help commemorate Southend’s city status are “coming together”, according to a business boss.

Owners of Southend’s Adventure Island are set to build the new attractions at the fun park, following the visit from the now-King Charles III in March to confer the status.

In July bosses asked Southend Council for its opinion on the new attractions, with documents revealing that the big wheel will be 36 metres tall, and the drop tower will stand at 38.2 metres.

Adventure Island has provided an update on the plans which will be coming to the city in due course.

In a post on social media park bosses said: “A new city icon is coming. Following the visit of His Majesty King Charles III bestowing city status to Southend, we are excited to reveal our contribution to this new recognition of Southend.

“Our brand new attraction ‘The City Wheel’ is coming together and we can’t wait for Southend to enjoy its first city status project. Keep an eye on our socials for more updates on The City Wheel.”

Park owner Philip Miller MBE added: “We felt the race was on to deliver an exciting project to reflect our new city status. As luck would have it, we won. Great news for Adventure Island and the team, great news for the city.”

The big wheel attraction is set to be 26 carriages and set to be 36 metres tall, and the drop tower will stand at 38.2 metres.

In comparison, the London Eye is 135m in height - nearly four times as tall - and has 32 capsules.

Brighton’s i360 attraction on the seafront is 137 metres tall.