A TOP North Yorkshire theme park will reopen to the public next Saturday - with Covid safety measures in place and a series of new attractions to enjoy.

Manager Colin Bowes said it was 'wonderful' to be able to finally welcome visitors back to Lightwater Valley, near Ripon.

"We have put in place a series of new protocols and guidelines to ensure they can have a great day out in a safe and secure outdoor environment,” he said.

A spokesperson said that in order to manage numbers, and ensure social distancing guidelines are maintained, the park will initially be operating with reduced capacity and all visitors will need to pre-book tickets online.

"Staff will also be continuing to carry out a series of additional cleaning and hygiene measures on site and queue markers will be in place to help visitors keep a safe distance apart," they added.

Mr Bowes said the emphasis would very much be on providing a great day out for young families, with lots of great new rides and attractions for the under 12s to enjoy.

The new attractions include Go Safari, with visitors invited to 'step aboard the Savanna Express on a sightseeing journey to spot dozens of life-sized animals hiding in the grasslands.'

Other new additions to the park include the Hot Air Balloons and the Treetop Trails, formerly treetops nets, which provides a net walk through the tree canopy high above the park and will now be included as part of the admission price.