Camelot Theme Park at Charnock Richard, Lancashire, UK, is on course to reopen to the public on 23 May after it was acquired from administrators by the Carlisle-based company, The Story Group.

The park was left facing an uncertain future when it was placed into receivership in February, after previous owners Prime Resorts admitted that it had been struggling to compete for visitors with rival attractions. Although The Story Group is looking to enter into negotiations with Chorley Borough Council in a bid to revive previous plans for a residential mixed-use development on the site, it has agreed to lease the park to Knights Leisure, a newly-formed group led by Roy Page, former chief executive of Prime Resorts, enabling Camelot to reopen this summer.

Page said: "Weeks of uncertainty have come to an end and, while I appreciate that the site's longer-term future is likely to include major mixed-use redevelopment, we are concentrating on putting all our energy into preparing the park and rides for the new season. "There's already a real buzz about the place, which we are sure will regain its position as one of the region's leading family visitor attractions. We've got some really exciting plans, which we'll be sharing in due course."

Les Ross, one of the joint receivers at Grant Thornton, added: "Securing the sale of Camelot Theme Park is a great result, particularly in the current economic climate. This deal has secured more than 150 jobs, both full-time and seasonal, in the short-term while the new owners submit a planning application for an alternative use for the site." Previous plans for the redevelopment of the Camelot site included a mixed-use development incorporating residential and retail developments, as well as a health and fitness club and a village hall.