Adventure Island ride to make 'grand comeback' this year

Work is underway on the popular Time Machine ride at the Western Esplanade theme park, which will return sporting an "all new look".

The attraction has been a hit at Adventure Island for years - with a maximum "thrill factor" -  as it spins, lifts and twists visitors upside down at high speeds. Now, it will be returning revamped and re-themed.

The newly revamped ride taking shape (Image: Adventure Island)

Revealing its return, a spokesman said: "Get ready for an epic return! Time Machine is set to make a grand comeback this year, sporting an all-new look.

"Here's a sneak peek: the main lift boom is now installed, and our expert ride maintenance team is busy revamping and retheming the entire ride.

"Stay tuned for more updates!"

The main lift boom has been installed (Image: Adventure Island)

The news has sparked excitement, with one visitor commenting: "Time Machine is my favourite ride and I'm so excited to ride it when it's finished being rebuilt!'

This comes after the amusement park provided an update on the progress of its hotly-anticipated new drop tower attraction.

The 38-metre ride, which is taller than the City Wheel, will be able to seat 16 thrill seekers at a time. Four names are currently under consideration for the ride, including The Tower, The Needle, Up 360 and Vertigo.

It will also be cycled as a rotating viewing tower on occasion, theme park boss Philip Miller says.

Updating its followers at the weekend, an Adventure Island spokesman revealed its team was "hard at work building the foundations" for the tower - despite the winter chill.

These updates follow the success of the new City Wheel, which offers sweeping views of the city and the estuary, in a calmer setting for "older visitors" and young families.