WORK has begun on the i360's pod which will carry passengers up to 450ft.

The engineering crew assembling the towering structure on Hove seafront began work on the 200-capacity vertical cable car yesterday.

It was planned that the pod would be together before Christmas.

But a spokeswoman for the i360, said: "The high winds experienced over the past couple of months have delayed the construction of the pod a little, however, this has not affected the overall construction schedule."

She added the British Airways i360 is still on track for its summer opening..

The £46.2 million structure is expected to bring in £25 million annually to Brighton and Hove.