Local media has reported that the developers of a new 'Discover Robin Hood' attraction in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire have been given until the end of March to show they have the necessary funds in place.

Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) named Discovery Attractions as the preferred bidder for the £13m project in October 2012, but the original proposed opening date of 2015 for the first of two phases has been put back to 2016 following a number of contractual delays.

The council has expressed its concern about progress on the attraction in the past and a spokesperson for NCC's cultural services department is quoted as saying: "We have been working with Discovery Attractions since they were announced as the preferred bidder to develop and manage a new visitor centre and a world class Robin Hood attraction at Sherwood Forest.

"We have continued to meet with and support the Discovery team in their work to progress the project and they are fully aware of our concerns related to progress on securing the required project funding.

"We have agreed with Discovery Attractions a deadline of 31 March 2014 to confirm their funding package to us."

For their part, Discovery Attractions has said: "Until advised to the contrary by Nottinghamshire County Council we continue to be the preferred bidder and continue to work alongside the council to develop Discover Robin Hood. Although we were surprised by the timing of statements, we can confirm a mutually agreed deadline of 31 March."

Once complete, the new centre will replace the existing Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre near Edwinstowe and offer - amongst other attractions - a live action main show created by Discovery Attractions in conjunction with US-based BRC Imagination Arts, an ecological exhibition called Discover Sherwood Forest, a theatre, a medieval village, Castle Dungeons and Knight's School, the Robin Hood Exploratorium and an adventure playground.