The Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel and Casino has opened a new diversion for its guests, SkyJump Las Vegas.

The attraction, described as 'controlled freefall', offers the opportunity of leaping more than 800ft (244m) off the 1,149ft-tall (350m) tower and joins three existing thrill rides at the site - Big Shot, X-Scream and Insanity. Riders are given a safety lesson and then fitted out with special jump suits. After being connected to a high-speed 'descender' machine, they are led to the edge of a small platform. From there they then leap out and drop 855ft (260.6m) to the ground at speeds estimated at up to 40mph (64.4kph).

Guide wires keep riders from straying off course and just before reaching the ground they are automatically slowed down to a controlled and safe landing. Skyjump, which Guinness World Records has declared the highest commercial decelerator descent in the world, will be offering its different take on the view over Las Vegas during both daylight and at night.