THE i360 is still on track to open this summer but ticket sales are delayed and an exact start date is still to be confirmed.

Excitement is building among passengers eager to book their place to take their first voyage up the 531ft tower.

Previously chief executive Eleanor Harris said it would open in time for the school holidays, which begin on July 22 for Brighton and Hove state schools, and that tickets would go on sale in June.

Yesterday the attraction said it is expected to open during the holidays and event bookings were being taken from the start of September but tickets are not yet on general sale.

A spokesman said work was progressing well and everything was on track, adding: "We will announce the opening date and ticket sales will open at the same time, once all the testing is completed."

Passersby will have seen the pod begin to move up and down the tower as testing is still being completed before the first groups of voyagers climb aboard.

In May Ms Harris told The Argus: "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."

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

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 which were due to begin in March but saw a delay which the company said was due to a change in timetable.

Brighton residents have already had a preview of the tower's lighting, which is yet to be formally switched on.