Skegness Fantasy Island: Administration 'really positive' for park

Fantasy Island, which employs over 170 staff, attracts up to 40,000 visitors a day

A seaside theme park has said it is looking forward to a bumper season after going into administration.

Fantasy Island, in Ingoldmells, near Skegness, went into administration in August, but has continued to operate.

Park staff said they had worked hard over the winter to improve facilities and were ready to reopen for the summer season on Saturday.

The 41-acre (16.5 hectare) site employs over 50 permanent and 120 seasonal staff.

Improved facilities

Claire Draper, director of finance, said they were still working with administrators to make sure customers had "a better experience than ever before".

"Administration is sometimes misconceived and has actually been really positive for Fantasy Island," she said.

"It has helped us significantly and we are looking forward to being around for a long time yet."

The park said it has invested a lot this winter to improve parking, refurbish toilets and upgrade rides.

Administrator, Duff & Phelps Ltd, said the company owned by Conduit Skegness would continue as normal until the various businesses had been assessed.

The theme park, which opened in 1995, is also home to what claims to be "Europe's largest seven-day market", and has 340 static caravan pitches.

It is holding an event on Saturday and Sunday to raise awareness of the Ryan Smith Foundation, which campaigns on safer cycling.

Local teenager Ryan Smith was left in a coma after a crash on his bike in 2013.