SCREAMS from thrill-seekers on white knuckle rides will be replaced by those of excited music fans when pop sensations perform at a North Yorkshire theme park this summer.

Girls Aloud and soulful heart-throb Lemar will top the bill at Velocity Party In The Park at Flamingo Land Fun Park and Zoo, Kirby Misperton, near Pickering.

More than 15,000 pop fans of all ages are expected at the open air concert on July 2.

Director Melanie Wood said: "It was just a thought that Gordon (Gibb, park chief executive) had that it was a good venue. We actually have a site with a natural incline and hard-standing to put a stage on. We had the space and the theme park and thought if Castle Howard can do it, so can we. Fingers crossed for July 2."

Mrs Wood said the attraction planned to make a summer music extravaganza an annual event.

"We're hoping the weather's good so it's going to be a picnic and party event. The good thing is Lemar maybe attracts an older audience than Girls Aloud. I think we've got something for all the family, and that's who we're hoping to attract," said Mrs Wood. Thanks to an extensive advertising campaign, ticket sales are already booming.

As an added bonus, 30 lucky ticket holders will get to meet Lemar and Girls Aloud if their ticket is picked at the event.

Girl group 411 was due to appear, but they have since have split up.

Tickets are £35 and include entry to the theme park and zoo. The park has recently strengthened its reputation with thrill-seekers by splashing out £5million on two new blood-rushing white-knuckle rides - Velocity and Navigator.

Velocity is the first "motorbike launch coaster" in Britain and cost £3.5million. Thrill-seekers sit astride the ride, like they would on a motorbike and zoom to 60mph in 2.5 seconds. The ride will be open at the beginning of July. Navigator spins riders clockwise and anti-clockwise on a horizontal U-shape track. It cost £1.5 million and will be opened soon.

Updated: 10:38 Wednesday, May 04, 2005