Merlin Entertainments bids for part of SeaWorld - source

Visitors attend the animal theme park SeaWorld in San Diego, California March 19, 2014 REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) - UK-based theme park operator Merlin Entertainments Plc <MERL.L> has approached marine park operator SeaWorld Entertainment Inc <SEAS.N> about a potential deal, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Merlin, which runs Legoland parks worldwide and owns Madame Tussauds, has made a bid for part of SeaWorld, but SeaWorld's preference is to sell itself whole, the source said.

The London Eye is seen near the Houses of Parliament at dawn in central London October 21, 2013. REUTERS/Toby Melville

SeaWorld has also received indications of interest from other parties, the source said.

"We do not comment on speculation or rumours", SeaWorld said. Merlin could not be reached for a comment outside business hours.

Merlin's approach for SeaWorld was first reported by Bloomberg earlier on Wednesday.

Shares of Orlando-based SeaWorld were trading up nearly 5 percent after the bell on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto)