PEMBREY Country Park's newest attraction is set to go downhill rapidly ... but park bosses are delighted.

For the new attraction is sphereing — or hill-rolling for up to three people in large spheres — and it is hoped it will be the next craze for thrill-seekers.

Carmarthenshire planning bosses have now approved the proposal for the side of the dry ski slope and it should open in time for the summer.

A report to councillors stated: "Sphereing is an activity which involves one to three persons being strapped inside an inflatable sphere which is then released from the top of the hill and stopped by the bunding at the bottom of the hill."

The ride lasts for a maximum of one minute, and chiefs hope it will be the latest crowd-puller at the country park, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in South Wales. Only a fortnight ago, the new Go Ape treetop adventure course opened there.

A spokesman for Spheremania, the English company behind the project, said there were three different types of sphereing.

"There is harness sphereing, where two people who are slightly mad get strapped into a full body harness and they are clipped into the inside of the sphere.

"They hold on to the straps above their heads and are launched at the top of the hill and travel at 27 miles per hour.

"It's an extremely rough and very demanding activity.

"It doesn't look much from the outside but inside it's like a car crash."

Attraction

Another attraction is aqua-sphereing.

The spokesman said: "This is completely different and has no harnesses. People inside link arms and have 60 litres of water added inside the sphere, and an inflatable bung is put in the hole which stops anyone falling out and as you go down the hill the water hits you."

Another attraction may be added in 2011, said the spokesman — Eclipse sphereing, where the occupants ride in a completely opaque sphere, which is red and dark blue on the inside.

The spokesman said: "They block out the sunshine and you can't see an inch in front of your face. It's like a nightmare gone wrong."