HERE'S a challenge for the millennium with jam on!

Roller-coaster fanatic Richard Rodriguez is once again to jet over from the United States in June to double his former 1000-hour riding record on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's very own Big Dipper.

If all goes according to plan Richard, pictured on his record-breaking ride in 1998, will be riding the Dipper until September 7.

And his latest 2000-hour non-stop attempt is to be sweetened with a sponsorship from F Duerrs & Sons, of Manchester, so giving it the title The Dipperthon to coincide with a new range of snacks from the jam company.

The Citizen spoke to the man himself about just why anyone would want to attempt such a stomach-turning feat: "I just love the adventure of the whole thing and sitting in the Big Dipper is like coming home to me.

"I prefer the old wooden coaster as opposed to say the Big One as they are less confining and you can move around and really get comfortable.

"Blackpool Pleasure Beach is my favourite park and the Thompson family have been wonderful. "I never get sick on the ride, it's more the bad weather that bothers me so I hope I get warm temperatures as I really need to layer up otherwise.

"I'm a diabetic too so I have to be careful of my insulin levels, of course, but apart from that as long as I've got my lucky dog tags from when I was in the military I'm fine.

"I certainly don't hold with the recent reports of brain damage from riding roller-coasters.

"After this I'm going to retire but I guess this is going out in style."

Geoffrey Thompson, managing director of the Pleasure Beach, said: "This is Richard's fifth record attempt and we know he's completely mad and we are totally confident he will achieve his aim.

"I'd rather walk to the South Pole than ride the Big Dipper for 2000 hours."

Throughout the Dipperthon, Richard will ride the Big Dipper for a quarter of a year with a five-minute break every hour.

He will also be raising money for the international children's charity Give Kids The World, which received a cheque for £1,053.70 from Easons Ice Cream of Kirkham this week at the announcement of Richard's June 9 record attempt.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.