CAMELOT Theme Park is to get a new 33-metre-high ferris wheel despite objections from nearby residents worried about privacy.

The Charnock Richard park, owned by Prime Resorts Limited, wants the wheel as a replacement for the Tower of Terror ride which has come to the end of its lease period.

The ferris wheel -- which will have 26 carriages allowing up to 1,000 people an hour to enjoy the ride -- will stay on site until November this year.

Residents in both Highgrove Avenue and Yewlands Avenue appealed against the application which went before Chorley Borough Council's development control committe.

Three households sent letters of complaint to the council and a 22-name petition was also submitted to the council.

The committee which approved the application heard that a temporary ferris wheel was given the go-ahead in March last year. However permission lapsed without it being constructed.

Alan Croston, the borough's head of planning services, told the committee he was concerned about the impact of the development upon residents in Highgrove Avenue and Yewlands Avenue.

He said: "The height is such that the ferris wheel would be more visually apparent than existing structures. This may also heighten residents' feelings of being overlooked and awareness of noise from the site.

"These are negative factors to be balanced against the general appropriateness of ongoing investment at this well-established theme park.

"On balance my view is to recommend permission be granted for the ferris wheel for the period requested."