THE first new attraction has arrived at Clacton Pier.

A 50ft-tall helter skelter has been put up on the landmark as part of new owners’ Billy and Elliot Ball’s plans to renew the attraction.

The newly-formed Clacton Pier Company bought the site last month from the Harrison family, who had owned it since 1994.

Billy Ball said the helter skelter is the first of many new rides due to arrive at the pier.

The ride was built in 1949, commissioned by the Traylen family’s travelling show, and has been an attraction at some of the UK’s most prestigious street fairs, including the St Giles Fair in Oxford.

The ride also featured in Marks & Spencer’s autumn and winter 2008/09 advertisement with Mylene Klass and models Twiggy, Erin O’Connor and Lizzie Jagger.

The last time a helter skelter was on the pier was in the late 1970s.

Billy said: “It’s a focus point on the seafront and can be seen for miles around and with the lights on in the evening it will be dazzling..

“We have signed a two-year deal to operate it from Clacton Pier and envisage we may want to make it a permanent fixture on the Clacton coast line.”