THE i360 is now expected to open before the start of the school summer holidays.

Attraction bosses told The Argus yesterday they were "on track" to take the first customers up the 531ft tower before July 22.

In the next few weeks the pod will begin testing up and down the tower and the attraction's lights will be switched on.

Bosses had previously said testing would begin in March, but to date no dress rehearsals have been held.

It led to fears that delays would see the i360 miss their target of a summer opening.

However, yesterday staff said the delay in testing was simply down to a re-ordering of the schedule of activity on the site.

Eleanor Harris, the i360's chief executive, said: “British Airways i360 is on track to open this summer, in time for the school summer holidays. Tickets will go on sale next month when we announce our exact opening date.

“Over the next month we will also see the pod start to move and the lights will be switched on, which we are very excited about.”

Plans for the tower were first submitted back in 2006 but it was the summer of 2014 before the work at the Brighton seafront site began in earnest.

The tower reached its full height last year and the last few months have seen various stages of testing.

Brighton residents have had a preview of the tower's lighting, which will be switched on in the next few weeks.

No precise date has been attached to the i360 opening, but yesterday's announcement is the closest we have come.

Last year, June 2016 was put forward for the first flight. This was later changed to a vague "summer 2016".

But bosses have now said they are set to open in time for the school summer holidays, which for state schools in Brighton and Hove is July 22.