This is the first picture of a large dome set to be built on the end of Southend Pier as part of multi-million pound plans for a giant rollercoaster.

The artist's impression shows the dome where thrill-seekers will queue up for the tallest white knuckle ride over water in the world.

The building will also house "high quality leisure and entertainment facilities," according to Tony Garner, the brains behind the scheme.

Visit the Swine website at www.swine.co.uk A new internet site was launched today offering the latest information on the rollercoaster plans.

Over the coming months, the Swine web page will reveal more and more detail about the bid.

Already the original estimate for the high-tech ride has shot up to £30 million, and plans are being developed for more leisure activities around the ride's entrance by the pier head.

Mr Garner, managing director of Southend White-knuckle Entertainment and managing director of Ionic Fuels Technology in Basildon, said the web site was aimed at getting people to share their views about the scheme.

He said: "We don't want to give away too much because other developers could come along with bigger and better plans.

"What we are looking for is people's reaction - what do they think of it?

"The first thing on there is an outside view of the building - a night shot and a day shot.

"It's not the finished design but it shows a modern structure with an almost Victorian-type look to it because we don't think a too modern building is in keeping with the pier."

Mr Garner added: "We have taken notice already of what people say they want down the pier.

"The building for the rollercoaster entrance is going to have more high quality leisure and entertainment facilities in it."

The scheme has gone through a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs since it first went public in 1996.

Mr Garner gained approval last year to press on with his dream after pledging cash contributions to give the Farringdon car park a facelift and fund smart road signs around the town pointing motorists to empty parking spaces.

Council engineers have begun a full survey of the pier structure which will be completed by the end of August.

Discussions are progressing between council officers and Mr Garner to fix the leases before any construction work can begin.

All change - an artist's impression of the Swine entrance. The ride would be built at the side of this building.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.