Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, staged two nights of amazing fireworks and laser displays to officially launch its 60th Anniversary celebrations.

Accompanied by music, the displays, which took place on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, set the night sky alight with all the colours of the rainbow.

The displays also guided visitors through the history of the family-owned theme park in spectacular fashion, with family members and some of the park’s most iconic rides and attractions all playing their part. This included video footage of Managing Director Colin Bryan being projected on to a huge water screen. The water screen was the biggest of its type ever seen in the UK.

It was in October 1949 when co-founders, George and Vera Bryan arrived at Drayton Manor after purchasing 80 acres of land for approximately £6,000. It took six months of hard work to create Drayton Manor Park, an inland pleasure resort, which first opened to the public at Easter 1950.

Over the decades, Drayton Manor has grown in size and popularity and today features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides in the UK.

While the theme park’s 2009 season has now come to a close, its Thomas Land™ attraction will re-open for the festive season. Drayton’s Magical Christmas (Saturday 28th November 2009 to Sunday 3rd January 2010) will see Thomas Land transformed into a winter wonderland, providing visitors with festive music, colourful decorations, snow machines, and a free Christmas gift for all children under nine. The park’s zoo will also be open during this period.

For full details about opening times and prices for Drayton’s Magical Christmas, visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call 0844 472 1950.