German ride manufacturer HUSS Park Attractions has begun construction work on a £3.5m observation tower in Weymouth, Dorset, UK.

When completed later this year, the 53m (174ft)-tall tower will be operated by Merlin Entertainments and will provide panoramic, 360-degree views over the English channel and surrounding countryside.

The structure will be built on the town's Festival Pier and will feature a rotating gondola of 12m in diameter, capable of accommodating up to 70 passengers at a time. Merlin already operates a Sea Life aquarium on the pier.

MCraig Dunkerley, general manager of Weymouth's Sea Life attraction, said: "The decision to develop the Weymouth Sea Life Tower was in part inspired by the spectacular success of the London Eye and subsequent expansion of the Eye brand to also encompass the famous Blackpool and Sydney Towers.

"We realised there was also an opportunity to develop a network of smaller-scale observation attractions in regional locations where we already operate other successful attractions, which is also in line with our policy of clustering attractions to benefit from cross-marketing opportunities and shared management."