Dudley Eye row: Bishop praises 'bold and imaginative' tourist attraction

The Rt Rev Graham Usher is also planning to take a spin on the temporary new addition to Dudley's skyline after the Bank Holiday weekend.

The attraction - called the DY Eye - has been criticised by some local people and national journalists with the former saying 'it's not a good thing because there's not enough to see in Dudley' and the later dubbing it 'worst tourist attraction in Britain'.

But traders, councillors and Dudley North MP Ian Austin are among those who have sprung to the defence of the big wheel which cost £10,000 to install, saying it is attracting new visitors to Dudley and a boost for the town centre.

Now the Bishop has also spoken out in support of the 115ft attraction, which will be in place until April 10.

Beginning his Easter message, the Bishop said: "The temporary Ferris wheel in Dudley, nick-named the Dudl-eye, was a bold and imaginative move. I hope it's a real success and I look forward to riding it after Easter. I'll do so with a bit of trepidation as, whilst I love the feeling of soaring up above the roof tops, I don't enjoy that feeling when you go over the top and start to descend. Up and down, up and down, the wheel turns.

"I guess life can seem a bit like that as well. One moment things are going relatively well, another things seem on the down."

He then continued with the more traditional part of his seasonal greeting.

"Holy Week has much the same feel of up and down about it. Jesus enters Jerusalem with his disciples to great acclaim on Palm Sunday. But it's also the week were he is betrayed, accused, tortured, and hung on a cross outside the city wall. By the end of Good Friday darkness and fear cloaks those who were closest to him. Evil has stalked its path and seems to have triumphed.

"Across the world many live daily under the cloak of darkness and fear: refugees desperate to build lives of peace; victims of war and terrorist attack; families forced to leave their homes because of the effects of climate change.

"In our borough I have spent time in recent months with those who struggle financially, young people addicted to drugs, elderly people who are desperately lonely, and those in abusive relationships. Darkness and fear stalks many lives.

"Jesus' triumph over death by rising on Easter Day says loudly and clearly that darkness and fear does not have the final word. Easter, the Day of Resurrection, celebrates life. In Christ love wins.

"I see lots of voluntary organisations in our borough that daily bring light, peace and love to the lives of thousands of people. These organisations are filled with Easter People bringing incredible acts of kindness. Daily they are living God's Easter message that love endures and will continue no matter what the ups and downs are on the Ferris wheel of life," he said.