AN entrepreneur featured on the Channel 4 series Secret Millionaire has given financial backing to plans to transform the disused Pontin's site at Hemsby into the “Eden of the East”.

AN entrepreneur featured on the Channel 4 series Secret Millionaire has given financial backing to plans to transform the disused Pontin's site at Hemsby into the “Eden of the East”.

Dawn Gibbins, who runs a specialised flooring company in Cheshire, has provided seed corn funding to allow detailed plans to be drawn up for a scheme to replace the holiday chalets with a multi-million pound domes development.

The vision of Norwich-based brand strategy guru Simon Middleton is for an all-year, 800-person camping venue in a sub-tropical climate.

He has formed a company, Norfolk Leisure, and will be working over the next month with architects from Saturn Projects - experts on leisure projects design - on a feasibility study.

Mr Middleton, who has led the rebranding of Hemsby to exploit its Viking heritage, said he was confident the project was financially viable.