Andy Hine, the chair of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, has urged the public to visit Wicksteed Park, warning the future of the Kettering attraction may be in jeopardy without continued support.

The call comes as the club brings more than 70 of its members to Wicksteed on 9 May in order to enjoy rides such as Rocky River Falls, Dinosaur Valley, the Ladybird Coaster, and the oldest water chute in Britain.

“Big, corporate theme parks don’t have the same heritage or soul as a smaller park like Wicksteed Park,” said Hine. “People need to get out and support their local theme park when and where they can as no-one knows what the future holds.”

“Only the strong will survive, which is why it is important for people to visit Wicksteed Park as many times as they can as you never know when it might not be there anymore, and that would be a tragedy for a place that holds so many fantastic memories for generations of people.”

The Roller Coaster Club is encouraging its 1,000 members to do all they can to help, with Hine adding “the outpouring of love for Wicksteed Park during the recent centenary celebrations for the water chute shows just how much the place means to people.”