THRILL-seekers will be able to return to Adventure Island for the fun rides this weekend – but only a quarter of the usual visitors will be allowed in.

Bosses say visitors numbers will be capped to keep people safe, some rides and outlets will be closed and a strict additional cleaning regime will be in place, following the coronavirus outbreak.

The park will only allow 4,000 visitors compared to the usual capacity of 20,000 people.

As the park gets ready to re-open on Super Saturday, managing director Marc Miller has unfurloughed more than 400 staff and has been working to get the site ready.

Mr Miller, MD the Stockvale group, the parent firm behind Adventure Island, said the safety of staff and customers is a top priority.

He said: “A team of more than 50 is in this week ensuring everything is washed, cleaned, sanitised and ready to go for Saturday.

“As the Army say, if it doesn’t move paint it – we are saying if it doesn’t move clean it.

“Regarding limiting our capacity to 4,000 people at any one time: We understand the great importance of rushing slowly.

“We are ecstatic knowing we can re-open again on July 4; the one meter ruling makes life a lot easier for us operationally, especially as we spent the last month planning on two metres.

“We have now unfurloughed over 400 staff this week ready for being open.”

Mr Miller said so many of the staff are delighted to be back and working.

Read more:

easyJet to close base at Southend airport

14-year-old girl left needing hand surgery after vicious dog attack in park

The team is cleaning every ride, attraction, restaurant, outlet, staff area and all customer and staff contact points with a Microbe Shield Surface Sanitiser that sanitises any surface for up to 30 days using a cordless electrostatic handheld sprayer.

All staff will be given personal protective equipment, which includes face coverings, shields, gloves and sanitiser. The bosses say that all restaurants and food outlets will use disposable containers, and cutlery and they say this will help with increased safety and help deliver customer confidence.

The rides that will remain closed initially include Tidal Wave, Spooksville, The Helter-Skelter, Mini Mega and the Crooked House and bosses say this will be continually risk assessed.

The inside restaurant Dining-Saurs will be closed, as well as the inside seating at the Three Shells, but the takeaway is open and the Britannia Fish and Chips shop also has its takeaway open.

With all the other restaurants the firm bosses have removed tables and chairs and changed the layouts of all areas.

They say everything has been done to ensure the correct Government and industry guidance and correct social distancing measures.

There are also perspex screens being installed at food outlets and cashier offices.