September 13, 2021

A seaside attraction’s third new ride of the year should be up and running by next month, it has been revealed.

Frustrating delays with the delivery of materials have held back the opening of Clacton Pier’s Looping Star Roller Coaster but it is hoped to be operating during the October half term break.

Bosses want it to be one of the star attractions during an excitingly ghoulish Halloween Festival which promises a host of activities and fun for all the family.

The Looping Star was bought from a park in Aberdeen in 2019 to replace the Stella’s Revenge which was sold to an attraction in South America.

However, following storm damage to the west side of the ride deck work had to be put back.

Pier director Billy Ball said the repairs were more extensive than first imagined and took longer to carry out.

“There has also been a struggle to obtain the necessary materials since the delay to achieve the installation,” he added. “And we now face the challenges that the rest of the world is experiencing with the supply of materials. 

“It has been frustrating for our customers and we have had had many enquiries about when the ride will open – and it has been equally frustrating for us.

“We wanted the Looping Star operating in the summer, but it wasn’t to be. However, we are at a point now where we hope to have it ready to make it a star turn at our Halloween Festival.”

The ride has a three car train with 12 seats and includes a ten metre loop.

The fang-tastic Halloween Festival will run during half term from October 23 to October 31 with a free fireworks extravaganza on November 6.

The Styles family will be on board again this year with their freaky sideshow after they have been self-isolating for more than five decades in the Jolly Roger at the end of the Pier.

There will be a special £19.99 offer which will include rides, go-karts, a round of adventure golf, seaquarium, video games, a visit to the pumpkin patch and candy floss. Anyone returning for a second visit over the period will get the deal at just £9.99.

A children’s fancy dress competition is also being staged along with a creepy colouring competition, monstrous model display, a ghost hunt pack and ghoulish good food.

Clacton Pier installed two other new rides this summer, the Elegant Wheel Experience and the Race’O’Rama.

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