Europe's first triple looper roller coaster could be rolling into North Yorkshire.

Bosses at Flamingo Land reckon visitors will go loopy for the planned new £3 million ride.

They are seeking planning permission for a triple loop, white-knuckle thriller at its theme park and zoo at Kirby Misperton, near Pickering.

And this big-thrills prospect could not come at a better time. Flamingo Land director Steve Crampton said the number of day visitors has fallen from more than 770,000 in 1992 to 526,000 last year.

Members of Ryedale District Council's northern area planning committee will be recommended to approve the application for the ride tomorrow. Mr Crampton said work to erect the roller coaster, which will be brought in from Malaysia, was due to get under way this summer, with the ride opening for the 2000 season.

"Flamingo Land operates in a very competitive sector of the leisure industry," he said.

"The ever-increasing number of day visitor attractions puts extra pressure on those existing to maintain their market share. The acquisition of the Triple Looper will help us to achieve this."

Marketing manager Melanie Gibb added: "It will be the only triple looper in Europe."

Ryedale's head of planning services, Mike Moffoot, said the maximum height of the ride would be 33 metres (108ft), with a length of 76 metres (250ft) and width of 37.5 metres (120ft).

"It is considered that a key issue in assessing this proposal is its visual impact in the context of the existing rides at the site and the views of the site, particularly across the Vale of Pickering," said Mr Moffoot.

"At 33 metres, the ride would be lower than the Bullet roller coaster, which has a height of 36 metres.

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