For four decades it was the main attraction at Southend’s heaving Kursaal amusement park.

The Cyclone was the rollercoaster of its day. But alas, like all good things, the ride eventually came to the end of the line- as these photos show.

Echo:

It was early 1974 and the winds of change were blowing into Southend. Workmen were busy demolishing the ride which had been defunct for almost two decades by this time. The space was to be used to build high rise flats.

The Cyclone, also known as the Big Dipper, became a twisted mass of metal and wood as bulldozers tore down the structure.

For decades the Cyclone had been the largest roller coaster ride at the Kursaal. Standing at more than 18 metres high (almost 60 ft) it had been brought from Belgium in the early 1930s and attracted thousands of thrill-seekers and day-trippers.

Echo:

In its early years, however, it was struck by tragedy. In October 1937 a man was killed on the ride.

Richard Caine, aged 23, from London was on a daytrip to Southend with friends when he fell out of the front car of the ride as it sped round a hairpin bend.

He was struck by the wheels of the roller coaster car and was killed instantly.

Horrified holidaymakers watched the tragedy unfold 50 feet above the ground.