DIVING: SOUTHEND will be treated to a look at Olympic gold medal hopeful Tom Daley this weekend as the country’s top divers come to town to perform on our world-class dive tower.

World and Commonwealth champion Daley will be the star attraction at the three-day British Gas National Cup competition at Garon Park’s new Olympic swimming and diving centre in Eastern Avenue.

On Saturday the 16-year-old will team up with Olympic silver medalist Peter Waterfield for their public debut as a synchro pairing.

But the following day all niceties will be put to one side as they resume their fierce rivalry in the individual 10m platform in which Daley will be keen to win back the title he lost to Waterfield last year.

The competition will also showcase emerging stars like 14-year-olds Alicia Blagg and Grace Reid, and feature Olympian springboard specialist Nick Robinson-Baker.

One of the closest events promises to be the women’s 10m platform, with Tonia Couch, Brooke Graddon and Monique Gladding all going for glory from the top board.

British Diving’s national performance director Alexei Evangulov says it is all set up for a stunning three days of competition.

“We have so many good newcomers and as a team we are getting better all the time,” said the former Russia head coach, who led them to three silver and two bronze medals at the Beijing Olympics.

“And with Tom and Peter teaming up we will get a chance to see if they will work as a pairing for the London Olympics “They are both very strong individually but we need to see if they work as a pair because they will be up against very strong counties like the Chinese, Germany and America.

“Peter and Tom have exciting potential, but we will know better after this weekend whether they are ready to compete together at the Olympics.”

Daley tweeted his disappointment last month at not to getting the chance to perform in Southend after a competition was called off when the snow stopped people travelling.

And Waterfield, who won Olympic silver with Leon Taylor in the Athens 2004 games, says they already have the makings of a formidable partnership.

He said: “We’ve been paired together because of how consistent our dives are. Individually we can perform some of the hardest dives and secure good entries. Now we need to do that together.”

The competition will take start tomorrow and finish on Sunday evening. Tickets will be available on the door, and people are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment as there will be limited seating.

Adult day passes cost £3, and £2 for under-16s. A three-day pass costs £7 for adults, and £5 for children.