Clacton Pier is among the top free entry attractions in the land.
The pier has proved itself to be a terrific crowd puller by increasing its visitors while the national trend was for those going to free attractions to go down.
So many visitors went to the pier last year it earned sixth place in the country in a national popularity poll overtaking other attractions, such as York Minster and the National Portrait Gallery.
According to a English Tourism Council survey, 75 per cent more people visited the pier last year while nationally the trend elsewhere was for a two per cent drop.
Mark Baird, one of Clacton Pier's managers, thinks things are going just as well this year despite a slow start with some bad weather.
This weekend in particular proved a great success with the bank holiday visitors.
He said: "This weekend was phenomenal. And there was a huge turn out for the fireworks displays."
Published Wednesday August 28, 2002
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