WEST Midland Safari Park will reopen its walk-through areas and theme park next week.

The popular attraction has confirmed it will fully reopen to customers from Saturday, July 4 - although pre-booking will still be essential.

Announcing the news, the park said: "We're thrilled to let you know that we will be re-opening fully from July 4.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Heightened cleaning routines will be in place at West Midland Safari Park as it reopens fully to guestsHeightened cleaning routines will be in place at West Midland Safari Park as it reopens fully to guests

"The walk-through areas of the Park will be opening, so you can now visit areas like Penguin Cove, Land of the Living Dinosaurs, Ice Age, Aquarium and Reptile House.

"The theme park will be open with new safety measures. Ride wristbands and tickets are charged extra."

Various safety measures will be in place, such as regular disinfecting of public areas, additional hand sanitiser stations, limiting the number of people allowed to enter shops and restaurants and kitting out the theme park ride seats with stickers to ensure social distancing is adhered to.

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The park has also invested in an antimicrobial protection spray called Zoono, which once applied lasts for 30 days, significantly reducing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, including Covid-19. This will be applied to all customer contact surfaces, including the rides.

Guests can also expect the number of tables in the restaurants to be reduced but takeaway options will be available from several other eateries

Tickets will be available to book online from Friday (June 26) at 9am.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Social distancing measures will be in place as the park reopensSocial distancing measures will be in place as the park reopens

The attraction announced the appointment of its former accommodation and venues director Chris Kelly as its new managing director earlier this month.

Mr Kelly said: “We welcome the news that we can now open the rest of the Park, including the Adventure Theme Park.

"Our teams have been working incredibly hard to prepare all areas of the Park, ensuring our guests have a safe and enjoyable visit.

“Some of the new safety measures include leaving empty seats and rows on the rides, social distancing measures for the queues, kiosks and restaurants and limiting our daily admission numbers.

"We will be encouraging guests to continue to book online, so we can adhere to government guidance and safely manage how many people we admit to our park.

Kidderminster Shuttle: West Midland Safari Park has invested in an antimicrobial protection spray, which once applied lasts for 30 days, significantly reducing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, including Covid-19West Midland Safari Park has invested in an antimicrobial protection spray, which once applied lasts for 30 days, significantly reducing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, including Covid-19

"We look forward to welcoming more guests back soon and hope they have a great day with us."

West Midland Safari Park reopened its doors for the first time since the lockdown on Monday, June 15 for drive-through guests only.

The park had been temporally closed since March 19 in response to the coronavirus outbreak, when more than 100 members of its staff were placed on the government furlough scheme.