Management at the pleasure park say they are "taking a chance" by holding last year's fees and charges but are hoping it will result in larger visitor numbers.

Managing director John Roberts has spoken on a number of occasions about the financial problems the park faces when bad weather keeps people away and the resulting slump in income.

Now Mr Roberts has said he hopes keeping admission prices down will be offset by more people going through the gates.

He said: "Wicksteed Park is the most popular family attraction in Northamptonshire, attracting tens of thousands of visitors throughout the year, and we wanted to continue to make it one of the most competitively priced in the whole of the UK.

"We're not reflecting things like changes to the minimum wage in our prices, so we are taking a chance.

"But we feel we owe it to the people to keep prices down. We want to provide value for money."

Wristbands for funlovers to use on rides and attractions will continue to be £15 for children or £10 for adults, and the cost of parking a car in the park will remain at £6.

A sheet of 12 ride tickets is £10 or £20 for 30 tickets.

Mr Roberts added: "If we put prices up, it doesn't necessarily mean more money, because less people will visit the park.

"The worst outcome is that we don't make any more money than we did last year."

Wicksteed Park's management is looking at other ways to generate money and Mr Roberts is hoping that detailed plans for 30 holiday homes will be approved in the next couple of weeks.

They are also putting together an application for a caravan site that would have the capacity for 100 caravans.

Consultants have been drafted in to help put together a Lottery bid for a museum and educational facilities, which is likely to be submitted in September.

Mr Roberts added: "One of the consultants includes a museum expert who will look at the way the Wicksteed story can be told."