THRILL-seekers are in for the ride of their lives next month, with the opening of this country's highest white knuckle ride.

Construction has started on a 55m high tower ride, the Cliff Hanger, at Flamingo Land theme park and zoo, near Pickering, North Yorkshire.

Daredevils will be propelled up and down the tower at speeds which the park claims "have challenged the boundaries of the amusement ride development".

The ride will be given pride of place in a new £4m themed development at the park, which opens on March 24. The area will also boast a children's Frog Hopper tower, a themed restaurant, and a 50m wide section of man-made cliff, modelled on Scarborough coastline.

Director Gordon Gibb said: "We wanted to both celebrate and offer a tribute to the traditional British seaside holiday. We have transformed an area of the park to create a mirror image of the UK coastline complete with sand areas, rock pools, cliff sections and of course, the Cliff Hanger, which will be themed to resemble a period lighthouse."