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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

New rules for safe day out at theme parks will mean empty seats and longer queues

A theme park which had to close its doors during lockdown for the first time in 124 years is getting ready to welcome visitors back.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is making changes to rides, queues and hygiene but trying to keep all the fun.

Pleasure-seekers are being asked to wear marks, sit more spaced out on rides and to queue two metres apart from other guests, when the government gives them the green light to open. 

The family-run business, founded in 1896, closed for the first time in its history due to the coronavirus pandemic, having stayed open through both world wars.

People queueing may have to wait longer as seats on the Icon ride are just one metre apart, meaning guests are being asked to avoid every other row.

For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, click here

Cleaning will be ramped up (Getty Images)

Alton Towers opened its gardens last week, but rides currently remain shut.

It hopes to reopen on Saturday, July 4 if the government's road map stays on track.

Alton Towers says: "The health and safety of our guests and staff is always our number one priority and to keep everyone safe, we’ll be introducing a number of additional hygiene and safety measures which you’ll see in place when you next visit."

They are asking people to only arrive if they have pre-booked tickets as capacity will be reduced, have a temperature check at the door and stay away if they have coronavirus symptoms.

Live music venues, cinemas and theatres which rely on people standing or sitting closer together for longer periods face a much longer wait to reopen.

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