Southport Pleasureland in Merseyside closed yesterday (5 September) after 93 years.

The theme park, owned by Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was shut after proving to be “unsustainable” as a ride park.

In an official statement, the company said: “It must be acknowledged that the UK theme park industry as a whole is facing increased competition from public and lottery-funded schemes which have significantly distorted the visitor attractions market.

“This situation has been compounded by our weekend trading now competing with extended Sunday shopping rules and Sunday sporting events.”

Pleasureland won a Britain in Bloom award in 1995 and saw £8m worth of investment in 1999 – which included the installation of the £5m TRAUMAtizer rollercoaster, the tallest, fastest, suspended looping coaster in the UK at the time – and a further £2m in 2004.

Other rides included the £1m, 150ft (46m) tall Lucozade Energy Space Shot tower and the King Solomon’s Mines coaster.