French buy safari park

WEST Midland Safari Park has been bought by a major French leisure group.

Looping Group owns theme parks, aquariums, water parks and wildlife parks across Europe.

The Worcestershire theme park will now form part of a portfolio of 15 parks in France, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Portugal and Germany. The new owners plan to develop the attraction with new features.

“We can confirm that The Looping Group has completed the acquisition of West Midland Safari Park,” said a spokesman for the Bewdley-based park.

“Further information about this exciting development will be available later this year.”

WMSP, which attracted around 700,000 visitors in 2018, was opened in 1973 by film star Sophia Loren.

Looping will now count around 4.3 million visitors per year and make a turnover in excess of 100 million euros after the deal.