MORE bookings for the i360 have been cancelled following delays in the attraction's opening.

Those with group bookings for late July have been asked to reschedule with testing on the pod still ongoing.

Among the groups affected include schools.

It comes after The Argus reported yesterday that a couple's wedding reception at the attraction was cancelled less than a month from the big day.

Attraction bosses said the decision to cancel the wedding was made because the Belle Vue restaurant beneath the attraction had been flooded.

Bosses had hoped to open the viewing attraction "in time for the school summer holidays" (July 22) with chief executive Eleanor Harris telling The Argus in May that an opening date would be confirmed in June.

However, an i360 spokeswoman said yesterday management are hoping to open before the end of the school summer holidays, in September.

She added that no bookings were now being taken for events before September.

She said: "We are aiming to open as soon as possible for people to enjoy the attraction for as much of the summer holidays as possible.

"We will not open ticket sales until we can fix the opening date and we will announce an opening date once all testing is completed.

"We have taken some group bookings for rides on the pod from late July and as a precaution have invited them to reschedule to a later date.

"They will have priority booking. We have not taken event bookings in our beach venue until September. We hope to announce an opening date soon."

The Argus asked how many bookings have had to be rescheduled but the spokeswoman did not respond.

Among those who have had to cancel include a school from Kent.

Teacher Cathy Logan said staff were informed just last week that the trip had been cancelled, leaving pupils disappointed.

The i360 spokeswoman said that there had been no delay in the opening and that promises of an opening before the school summer holidays was a "communication issue".

It is feared that if the i360 does not open until the end of the school summer holidays, then the attraction would miss out on the peak season, thus hitting their financial targets.

The spokeswoman said they hoped to be open a long time before the end of the holidays.