THE date when Brighton's newest tourist attraction will be open to the public is set to be announced within days.

Anticipation has been building since work began on the 162 metres high tower of when the public will get to experience a ride in the observation pod which will glide to 138 metres.

The Argus revealed last week the venue had cancelled a wedding reception which had been due to take place on July 29.

Eleanor Harris, the i360's chief executive, said: "We are going to make an announcement in the next couple of days. We are very close to announcing and we are opening fairly imminently.

"Our new staff have already started and have been going through their induction programmes since July 8th.

"Tests are going brilliantly on the pod and we're at the final stages of fitting out the building."

The i360 has repeatedly denied that they are facing delays - but have consistently refused to reveal an exact opening date.

Mrs Harris told The Argus in May they planned to be open "in time for the school summer holidays" which start on June 22 and general tickets would go on sale in June.

But last week they said they hoped to be open to the public before the end of the holidays in September.

The £46.4 million project is backed up by a loan agreement of £36.2 million, which comes via Brighton and Hove City Council from government agency, the Public Works Loan Board.

The i360 will create 169 jobs and expects to draw more than 700,000 additional tourists and up to £25 million revenue into the local economy annually.