DUDLEY’S leader has hit back over headlines in the national press dubbing the town’s new ferris wheel the “worst tourist attraction in Britain”.

Councillor Pete Lowe took to the DY Eye himself this morning (Wednesday) to big up the new 35-metre attraction in Stone Street Square which has been erected to put Dudley on the map.

It was hoped the wheel would promote the town’s regeneration by giving people a birds-eye view of the changing landscape and the historic castle but it has attracted criticism in the press for offering up “grim” views of factories, concrete buildings and derelict offices.

And during a feature on Good Morning Britain outspoken TV host and former newspaper editor Piers Morgan gave a no holds barred review of the DY Eye, saying: “Even people in Dudley know that’s a horrible view.

“I can’t think of a grimmer panorama than Dudley at 7.37 in the morning.

“The only tiny glimmer of hope it offers is that you can see something other than Dudley somewhere further afield!”

Cllr Lowe (pictured below right), however, hit back – saying: “I can’t think of a grimmer spectacle than watching Piers Morgan on the TV in the morning.

“We were trying to work with the business community and drive people into the town and it’s certainly doing exactly what we set out to. People were queuing up on Saturday and we had to open the ride two hours before to get people on there. It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase the town’s history and hopefully what it’s going to be in the future.”

Dudley News:

And he branded sacked Daily Mirror editor Mr Morgan as a “typical cynic southerner” for making “derogatory remarks about one of the best communities in the country”.

But he said if the former Britain’s Got Talent judge wanted to take a look and see for himself what Dudley has to offer he’d be happy to give him a tour of the town’s sites such as Dudley Zoo and Castle, The Black Country Living Museum and, of course, the DY Eye!

The giant observation wheel, sponsored by Free Radio and other local businesses is open seven days a week until Sunday April 10 (apart from Easter Sunday).