Work has begun on rebuilding the fire-damaged Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.

A barge, known as Spud Leg, capable of holding 15,000 tonnes, sailed into the resort yesterday after a three-hour journey from Cardiff.

The craft, which will remain by the pier anchored by its "spud legs", is carrying a 110-tonne crane and equipment needed to begin rebuilding the pier.

Commercial Marine & Piling Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work, which is expected to take around three months.

The firm has 20-years' experience undertaking technically challenging projects and is one of the UK's leading companies in the construction and refurbishment of leisure-based maritime structures.

Successfully completed pier projects include the demolition of redundant or weather-damaged structures, such as Shanklin Pier on the Isle of Wight.

Others include the extensive refurbishment of some of the country's most famous and historic piers, both timber and steel framed.

One of its most recent refurbishment projects was on the fire-damaged Southend Pier, the world's longest leisure pier stretching 1.3 miles from shore.

It was completed on time and to budget despite winds of up to 70mph, temperatures as low as -11C, and a tidal range in excess of 6m.

Darren Edwards, site manager for CMP, said: "We are using a Spud Leg Barge, which we sailed in at high tide on Thursday morning.

"The spud legs go down into the seabed and the barge becomes an anchoring system so it does not move around.

"The legs remain in place and the barge rises up and down when the tide goes in and out.

"It is positioned about three metres from the pier and we are using a crane on board to unload all the materials and equipment we will use to drive the piles into the seabed.

"There is a lot of testing work which has to be done and once this is complete we hope to start the piling work next week."

The tubular steel piles will be inserted to a depth of around 25m and contractors will work six days a week for the next three months.

Pier co-owner Kerry Michael said he was pleased the scheme was on target.

He said: "The beginning of the piling work is great news and is the beginning of the reconstruction of the pier following the fire.

"We're keen to get the work under way and it means we are on schedule to reopen for the summer of 2010.

"We aim to keep disruption to local people and businesses to a minimum during this work and we can now look forward with heightened anticipation as the new Grand Pier starts to take shape."

Once the Pavilion has been rebuilt, around £8-9 million will be spent on the latest and most impressive rides.

These include Robocoaster, a giant robotic arm ride and Sidewinder, a swinging pendulum.

An 85m-highe observation tower costing £2 million will be installed at the rear of the pier, offering panoramic views of Weston Bay and the channel.

It will hold 25 people at a time and will revolve slowly.

For the first time, rides will also be created on the roof of the pier waist, including a surf ride along a motorised wave and a dragster ride to get from the shore end to the pavilion.

Other attractions will include a new electric go-kart track, a roof-height helter skelter in the north-west tower and an "aerial" assault course.

The course will be created in the roof space and will be the first of its kind in the region.

Old favourites will also make a comeback with a bigger and better freefall ride, crazy house and dodgems.

There will also be a traditional Edwardian tearoom at the end of the pier which will double as a wedding venue for up to 125 guests and a 250-seat conference facility in one of the corner towers.