VISITORS and residents can enjoy views over the beach and town centre by riding on a 114ft wheel on the seafront.

Decorated in red and white stripes, the lit up gondolas are illuminated with red lights on the big wheel, with the whole structure being seen from the lower gardens.

The wheel has been organised by Bournemouth's Coastal BID, whose members have rallied together to bring a new experience to the seafront for 2016.

Lizzy Cooper, 30, from Springbourne and friend, Jess Sainsbury, 26, were the among the first people to go on the Big Wheel in Bournemouth.

Lizzy said: "It was alright but it only spins three times. But we played our own music on our phones and we could see the beach and the town centre, which was nice. We said that as it was £5, that was fair, so we did it as part of a festive day before our work Christmas party."

Iris Compan, 25 and friend Jenny Limon, 25, took Iris's mum, Bego, and partner, Pep, on the Big Wheel as they were visiting the girls from Spain.

Iris said: "It was okay but I'm a bit afraid of heights. It has nice views and I got some nice pictures of the beach on my phone."

Meanwhile, Jenny said: "I loved it. It was so relaxing. We stopped at the top for about three minutes, so I took some photos of the beach.

"It was £5 each, which we thought was very good."

The big wheel is in place until Saturday, January 7 and will run from 10am to 10pm each day.

Admission is £5 per adult and £4 per child, with 50p off for people carrying proof of their BH postcode.