A NEW Forest theme park and Bournemouth's beach have been named among the most family-friendly attractions in Britain.

Paultons, in Ower, was voted the best family theme park in the country in a survey commissioned by Mother and Baby magazine.

Bournemouth was named the most family-friendly UK beach and the town was the fifth most family-friendly UK holiday destination.

Paultons scored 70 per cent when rated on service, facilities, cleanliness, food and value for money. This was compared with 68 per cent for Legoland, 57 per cent for Chessington World of Adventures, 56 per cent for Blackpool pleasure beach and Thorpe Park, and 53 per cent for Alton Towers.

Dami Zur, editor of Mother and Baby magazine, said: "Families with young children loved Paultons Park. Although it has a super water ride and lively roller coaster, it's not overrun with older teenagers and is perfect for the 12s and under."

Bournemouth beach was ahead of St Ives and Wey-mouth as the favourite for families. Bournemouth was fifth as the favourite UK destination, behind Cornwall, Blackpool, Wales and Devon.

Lewis Paterson, beach services manager for Bournemouth Borough Council, said: "We are pleased to be highlighted as a top family-friendly beach. A lot of hard work and effort goes into ensuring that our award winning beaches are clean, safe and accessible to a whole range of visitors including families."

The survey found nine out of 10 parents with young children thought family days out in the UK were a "rip-off" and 76 per cent said Britain was not family-friendly.

Two-thirds said their town did not have good public toilets and 71 per cent said local public transport was a nightmare for families.