A UK theme park has unveiled plans for a £12 million Viking-themed world to open in its grounds next year. Hampshire-based Paultons Park revealed its largest investment to date in Valgard, Realm of the Vikings this week, aimed at families with older children and teenagers.

Plans include two new rides, one of which will be the park’s first inverting rollercoaster, called Drakon. Also joining the park will be the Vild Swing ride, set to swirl thrillseekers 39ft (12m) in the air.

Paultons opened a new £3.5 million indoor ride called Ghostly Manor on Saturday in another addition to the park, which is located in Ower. As part of plans to bring Valgard to the park, the existing Cobra ride will be rethemed and made into a bobsled adventure to be called Raven.

Other elements of the new world include a themed restaurant with a high capacity and a new playground for younger children.

It was also confirmed that another “water-related experience” would be added to Valgard in 2027, but the park would not give any further detail on the installation, the BBC reports.

James Mancey, Paulton's deputy managing director, said: "We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date, and on the day that we welcomed guests into our brand-new Ghostly Manor.

"As an independent, family-owned theme park, we're incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience."

He said the new rides would be “bigger and better than ever before”.

Paultons Park opened in 1983 on land in a historic country estate and is owned by the Mancey family, originally covering 140 acres when it was established.

It is perhaps most famous for its Peppa Pig World, which opened in 2011, featuring three large rides and a number of smaller attractions.

The section also features the largest Peppa Pig toy shop in the world and saw visitor numbers to the park double in its first year of operation.