Councillors have given the green light to boosting Portsmouth's version of the London Eye by an extra 50 feet.

A 130ft wheel was approved earlier this year, but the directors of Clarence Pier have resubmitted plans with a diameter of 165ft – making the wheel 180ft tall when mounted.

The scheme was unanimously approved by the city planning committee, and some councillors applauded spontaneously.

They reckon the wheel will rejuvenate the pier, attract visitors to the seafront and encourage further improvements in the surrounding area.

Councillor Lee Hunt said: 'This is a place where kids gather with their cars. Several of them have gone to their deaths along the seafront. This will stop that.

'I'm mindful of the objections, but we need the economic vitality that this will bring.

'It's a big investment in Portsmouth. Southampton doesn't have anything like this. It's another string to our bow.

'We're supposed to be a powerhouse of the south east region, but that isn't really happening.

'We want extra tourists, extra pounds, extra jobs. This small change might make a massive difference.'

Julian Norman and his wife Jill are directors of the company that owns Clarence Pier and will be funding the wheel.

Mr Norman said: 'I'm absolutely delighted it's been given the go-ahead.

'Now we've got to get our heads down and get it here.'

Head of planning services John Slater said design problems that saw the 180ft wheel plan withdrawn earlier this year have now been ironed out.

Hovertravel had previously objected but is now satisfied that the proposed road layout gives it a pick-up and drop-off point.

And council officers say the wheel is so far away from neighbouring buildings that residents won't have to worry about people seeing into their homes.

But the resubmitted plans still received 38 letters of objection, mainly flagging up concerns about the number of visitors it will attract, the extra traffic flow and the demands for parking.

So council officers added a condition that no work should be started until a plan encouraging alternative travel to the site had been submitted and approved.

m