A HAMPSHIRE visitor attraction is to recruit more than 100 new staff in preparation for the 2017 season.

Paultons Park at Ower is looking to fill vacancies in its operations, catering and retail departments before the start of the new season which starts on February 12.

The investment in new staff comes on the back of a successful 2016 which saw the launch of the Lost Kingdom - a £9m “immersive” Jurassic Park-style dinosaur attraction with two roller coasters which has proved a big hit with visitors.

Since its £11m investment in Peppa Pig World the park has seen its annual visitor numbers double to a million and it has become a world class attraction with an annual turnover of around £24 million, employing more than 100 full-time staff and more than 650 seasonal workers.

Last year Paultons received visitors from 36 different countries and was rated the number one theme park in the UK by Trip Advisor, number six in Europe and number 22 worldwide.

Stephen Lorton, the park’s commercial director, said: “It’s been a successful year for the park with the addition of Lost Kingdom. We’re excited at the prospect of growing our team and ending the season with a big recruitment drive in preparation for an even busier and better 2017.”

Job seekers will able to find out more about the roles available when the park hosts recruitment evening next Thursday (December 8) between 4 and 7pm.

Head of Human Resources at the park, Darren vVann, said the majority of jobs were seasonal and about 40 per cent were new roles created to meet a rising number of visitors.

Set within 140 acres of parkland, Paultons features more than 60 rides and attractions including rollercoasters; Flight of the Pterosaur, Velociraptor, EDGE, Cobra, Magma, the Raging River Ride and a 4D cinema.

It’s also home to Critter Creek, a themed world of strange mixed-up creatures known as the ‘curious critters’.

As the 2016 season draws to a close, Paultons Park is holding two Christmas shopping days at The Big Toy Shop on December 8 and December 13. The shop will be open from 10am – 5:30pm on these days as will the Wild Forest restaurant which be serving drinks and light bites.