Positive reviews for divisive beach wheel

Peter Harriman, who was one of the first riders, said he loved the experience

An observation wheel on a beach has taken its first riders.

The 26m (85ft)-tall Turkish-made ferris wheel has been built on sand at Weymouth, Dorset, promising spectacular views of the Jurassic Coast until October.

Objectors on social media have called it a "monstrous intrusion" and an "eyesore", while other residents have said it "blends with the horizon" and "looks great".

Peter Harriman, who was one of the first passengers on Tuesday, said he loved the experience.

The wheel took its first passengers on Tuesday

Mr Harriman said: "I loved it. It gives you views out over the Pavilion, out over towards Greenhill and then over the South Dorset Downs towards Dorchester and Chickerell.

"It's shiny, it's huge and the Perspex glass is perfectly fine to see through."

Another passenger, Dawn, who rode the attraction on her wheelchair in an accessible pod, said: "I thought it was marvellous. Absolutely marvellous."

Spencer and Sara Hall obtained the ferris wheel from a manufacturer in Turkey

One of the wheel's operators, Sara Hall, said she was keen to respond to social media concerns about the wheel's safety.

She said: "We researched that there's wheels built all over the world on sand.

"We had the HSE [Health and Safety Executive] here for a few days and loads of checks on it... Safety is our priority."

In 2019, another observation attraction in Weymouth - Jurassic Skyline - closed due to falling visitor numbers.

The 53m-high (174ft) rotating viewing platform opened in June 2012 in time for that summer's Olympic sailing events.

Weymouth's latest attraction is slighter smaller than the 30m (98ft) Bournemouth Big Wheel and is dwarfed by the London Eye which stands at 135m (443ft).