'Brum Eye' is to return to city

The previous wheel was dismantled in September 2006

A 60m-high Ferris wheel is to return to the centre of Birmingham after a three-year absence.

The previous wheel, nicknamed the Brum Eye, was dismantled in September 2006 after its owners said they were made an offer for it they "could not refuse".

The new attraction will start being built in the city's Broad Street on Sunday and is expected to take a week before it is ready to ride on.

At present, the wheel is expected to be removed again in February.

The wheel will again be operated by private company World Tourist Attractions which will charge people to go on the ride.

It's going to be nearly as tall as the Hyatt hotel - how fantastic is that? Broad Street manager Mike Olley

A spokeswoman said the new structure would be made up of 42 fully-heated "gondolas".

Broad Street manager Mike Olley said: "At 60m [197ft] high it's the highest any wheel we've had here has ever been - they keep getting taller each time.

"To put it into context at that height, it's going to be nearly as tall as the Hyatt hotel - how fantastic is that? We're hoping it's going to attract a lot of people to the area who will be able to see so many brilliant sights from that height."

He said a campaign had already started to keep the wheel running longer than planned.

There have previously been two other Ferris wheels put up in Broad Street.

The second was erected in Centenary Square in November 2003 after previously being located near the Champs-Elysee in Paris.

Its owners blamed "technical difficulties" for commentary on board the wheel which initially invited people to admire the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower.

That wheel was dismantled in March 2004, and a second wheel went up in October 2004.

It was taken down with just two hours' notice when World Tourist Attractions sold it to an Australian firm.