The boss of a landmark tourist attraction ran a string of failed companies.

Jeffrey Sanders, a director of the firm planning to build the Brighton Wheel, previously ran three other failed leisure firms.

Mr Sanders, was a director of amusement park firm Rockside Leisure which went into liquidation in 2010 owing creditors hundreds of thousands of pounds.

He was also a director at Sunville Leisure, which traded as the Family Leisure amusement arcade in West Street, Brighton. This company went into liquidation in January this year, according to documents filed at Companies House.

As revealed in The Argus last week, Mr Sanders was also a boss at Coasta Ltd, which operated the failed Treasure Island attraction in Eastbourne.

Coasta went into voluntary liquidation in March owing Eastbourne Council around £60,000.

Mr Sanders is nowa director at Paramount Attractions which plans to develop the £6 million 45-metre-high ride known as the Brighton Wheel on Madeira Drive. The company has announced plans to open the attraction in time for the school holidays in the third week of July. The directors have said previously that the city’s businesses and residents are overwhelmingly in support of the attraction.

The wheel is expected to create at least 30 full-time jobs.

Brighton and Hove City Council approved Paramount’s plans in April. The company claims about 250,000 people a year are expected to get a 360- degree, bird’s eye view of the city from the continually moving attraction.

It will remain for a maximum of five years and operate from 10am to 11pm, 365 days a year.

Aspokesperson for Brighton and Hove City Council said it was aware of the problems in Eastbourne but did not know about Mr Sanders’ directorships at Rockside and Sunville.

He said: “The council is unaware of these two companies.

We were aware of the Treasure Island problems as previously stated. We are putting a bond in place in order to protect the council in the future.”

The Argus contacted Mr Sanders but he declined to comment.