IT has been a staggering success since opening to the public one year ago tomorrow.

About half a million people are believed to have hitched a ride so far on the Norwich Union Yorkshire Wheel at the National Railway Museum (NRM), helping the museum to attract its biggest attendance figure in more than 20 years.

Now museum bosses have revealed that if the wheel's success story continues, they could bid to keep it in York for many years to come.

Spokeswoman Anna Clark said that museum attendances had been expected to rise to about 720,000 in the year since the wheel opened on April 12, 2006. In fact, they soared to more than 900,000 - the highest since 1986.

She could not give a figure for the number of people going on the wheel, but The Press reported last August that almost 200,000 people had hitched a ride so far out of 343,000 museum visitors. If last August's trends continued, that would mean about half a million wheel riders to date.

Anna said the wheel had permission to remain at the museum for three years, so it was guaranteed to stay there for another two.

"But if it continues to be so successful and remains a great attraction for York, we will look into extending the planning consent," she said.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, has hailed the wheel as bringing a new dimension for tourism in the city, acting as a hook to bring in new visitors and boosting revenue for the local economy.

News of the bumper visitor figures comes as the NRM prepares to stage the world's largest Wheel Of Fortune event.

Anna said that for 42 days from the wheel's first birthday, a random museum visitor will be presented each day with a golden ticket - "one to represent each of the 42 climate-controlled pods."

Everyone handed a golden ticket will automatically win five free family tickets for the wheel - and their pod will also take part in the bid to establish a new world record on Thursday, May 24, weather permitting.

On that day, without anyone in the pods, the 60-metre wheel will be spun much faster than the normal ride speed and stopped randomly in true Wheel Of Fortune style.

"The pods which stop where X marks the spot will win a range of great treats, including a first prize of a trip for two to London, courtesy of York mini-break specialists Superbreak, including tickets for the must-see West End blockbuster, The Sound Of Music.

Judith Whitaker, head of commercial development for the NRM, said she wanted the wheel's birthday celebrations to be different and fun.

"The advantage our wheel has over others is that it can spin faster and be stopped randomly," she said.