Sneak peek at Arnold's amazing maze that's three times…

Sneak peek at Arnold's amazing maze that's three times bigger than last year

Notts Maze will return this year - bigger, better and with more opportunity to get lost.

Covering 12 acres, the outdoor attraction set in countryside near Arnold, will be three times bigger than in 2019.

It was touch and go whether to go ahead this year since planting had to take place in March just as coronavirus gripped the UK.

Some mazes across the country will not be opening because of the uncertainty but the farmer of the field at Lime Lane Woods took a gamble which has paid off.

Notts Maze is rapidly growing (Nottingham Post / Marie Wilson)

The maize is now rapidly shooting up and by the time the attraction opens later this month, it will have grown to at least 5ft.

"I think we are one of the biggest in the country. Last year we did really well and had 5,000 come through. We were open every day of the summer holidays," said maze director Aaron Cowley.

"It's a little bit of fun, exercise and it's outdoors but we will be limiting how many people are in the maze at any one time."

The size of the maze is likely to add at least another 30 minutes of fun onto the quest to find the exit.

Twins Luke and Rhyss Knight pictured playing giant Jenga at the maze (Nottingham Post / Marie Wilson)

Within the maze are two games circles with activities including giant Jenga, hoopla, croquet and swing ball as well as benches for a rest.

Also new this time is a duck search, as well as a treasure hunt and a word search puzzle to solve.

Participants can buy an escape route map for £1, which is refundable if they return the envelope unopened.

"We didn't have many opened last year but I think we will this time," said Aaron.

The maze will be adhering to Government guidelines at all times with social distancing, hand sanitiser and taking people's temperature,

He added: "We are widening some of the paths so there are passing places. We will encourage customers going into the maze to use their judgement whilst walking around and will, if we feel it necessary, stagger entry at particularly busy times. This will hopefully be no more than a few minutes wait."

Aaron Cowley, maze director with the resident scarecrows (Nottingham Post / Marie Wilson)

After finding their way out of the maze, visitors can try their hand at archery and axe throwing at the site. Refreshments, including ice creams, will also be on sale.

It took the farmer in a tractor nearly five hours to plant the maize, which was plotted on GPS.

The maze, which launches on July 25, will be open until Halloween, when once again an after-dark hunt for escaped convicts will take place.

Once it has served its purpose the maize will go to a power station where it will be used to create energy.