Around 200 underprivileged children from across Nottingham were treated to a free day out at Fantasy Island to make up for the loss of Nottingham Beach this summer.
The annual event, transforming Old Market Square, into an inland seaside, has been cancelled for a second year due to the pandemic.
Owners of the Ingoldmells theme park, Nottingham-based Mellors Group invited local kids on a day out, starting with a coach ride filled with sweet treats and juices as well as a free meal and drink at Fantasy Island.
Sarah, one of the children who visited, said: "It has been amazing. My favourite part of the day was making new friends and getting to go on all the tall and fast rides at Fantasy Island.”
As well as getting the chance to go on some of the 30 outdoor and indoor rides, the children also caught a glimpse of the seaside - something many of the children had never seen before.
James Mellors Senior, owner of Mellors Group, said: “As our annual Nottingham Beach event was sadly cancelled last month, it was great to bring residents from the area to the seaside.
“As a family-run entertainment company, our biggest motivator is bringing happiness to children’s faces and providing them with amazing memories, but we understand this isn’t easy for families from less fortunate areas, so we wanted to gift them with a special day.
“I was honoured to meet all the visitors before they departed to Fantasy Island, and I personally stocked the coaches up with treats to make the journey even more enjoyable.”
The families were found through the Nottingham-based charity, The Toy Library.
