A MILLION-pound investment at Weymouth Sea Life Park got hundreds of children spinning and shrieking with joy.

Cartoon characters Spongebob Squarepants and his friend Patrick the starfish, and Dora the Explorer and her friend Diego joined the youngsters for the opening day of the park's new attraction Adventure Island.

The new addition offers four rides aimed at four to 12-year-olds and includes a swinging pirate ship and a drop ride.

There is also an unpredictable water attraction that guarantees a soaking to those who get too close, and food stalls.

Marketing co-ordinator of the park Kim Madley said: "It is the official opening of our new feature.

"We've had two school groups come in to cut the ribbon and to come on in and be VIPs. All the children dressed up as adventurers - Indiana Jones and Spongebob Squarepants, there's balloons, food and music and it's great. It's really good fun.

"Basically it's four children's rides and it's just an added addition to our already really good Sea Life Park. We're all really proud of it and it's just a really good day to celebrate all the hard work we've put in."

General manager of the park Gareth Lay said it is the biggest investment Sea Life has ever made in all its 28 sites across the world, and Weymouth is very lucky to have it. He said: "Sea Life has sites in Holland, France, Germany, Denmark and Ireland and one opening in California in a few months' time.

"Weymouth was chosen because as a park land we have the space to do it, many of the others are city centre or indoor attractions. We're unique here because we're all outdoors with seven acres of space."

He added: "And it was what our customers told us they wanted - a fun, ride-based outdoor experience to enhance the marine life we have across the park.

"It's been in the making for well over 12 months now, it's been a long process but I'm really pleased it's here, it's just brilliant.

"A lot of the ideas that went into this came from our visitors.

"It's all created by children for children, that's the theme of the area and from what we've seen already, they love it."