WEYMOUTH'S big wheel will not be rolled out on to the beach this summer as planned.

The man behind plans to build the 28 metre-high observation wheel says planning delays mean it would not make financial sense to go ahead with the scheme this year.

But John Holland says the delay will allow his family company to iron out engineering problems with the council's planning department.

And he has promised that Weymouth will have its own mini-version of the London Eye in place by next summer.

He said: "It is a very complex business putting a big wheel on the beach and the planning department has raised a number of issues with us about it.

"Things like the weight of the wheel going on the beach need to sorted out and we need to make a number of minor technical alterations.

"A planning application is due imminently but that would mean the wheel would not be in place until August.

"We have taken the decision that that would have been too late in the season for us and would not have been financially viable.

"Also, we don't want to rush the whole thing and find that something goes wrong."

Weymouth and Portland Council agreed to back the scheme at a meeting in March when councillors granted a trial operating licence for the next two summers.

Councillors believe the wheel will bring extra income to the area.

J Holland and Sons Ltd, who are the current tenants of Alexandra Gardens, want to position the wheel next to the old aquarium.