Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire has opened a new £20 million hotel as part of its plans to boost business at the tourist attraction.

The new four star complex, complete with medieval-style turrets, features 150 bedrooms, 11 of which styled with a Thomas the Tank Engine-theme.

Colin Bryan, managing director at the park, which was opened by his parents George and Vera in 1949, said the hotel would bring in more revenue to the business which he hopes to pass on to his own family.

The 63-year-old said: “It’s very important to make people stay a second or third day and hopefully people will stay as long as a week.

“I’m exceptionally happy with the way it looks. It’s just been so well appreciated.

“We had a traumatic time getting it through planning and financing but it has all been worthwhile.

“I look forward to the future with my sons, niece and nephews running it.”

Mr Bryan said the first designs of the hotel, originally on a much smaller scale, were banded about in 1997 yet the construction did not commence until March last year.