LITTLE landlubbers have been dressing like pirates to launch a North-East visitor attraction’s latest feature.

A 40ft wooden Pirate Galleon play area has been unveiled at Adventure Valley, near Durham City.

Captain Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of the Caribbean, opened the new play area on Saturday and is chatting to youngsters over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The pirate fun will continue throughout May half term with swashbuckling magic shows and the captain will be back for the final weekend of the holiday.

Janine Calzini, from Adventure Valley, said: “We did a lot of research among visitors and talked to a lot of children about what they would like to see at Adventure Valley.

“Pirates capture children’s imagination, from classic novels to Hollywood blockbusters.

“We have tapped into this sense of adventure with our new Pirate Galleon play area.”

The £25,000 investment in the Pirate Galleon play area follows the opening last month of the biggest jumping pillow in the country by Team GB Olympic Trampolinist Kat Driscoll.

Mrs Calzini said: “We invested heavily last year in new indoor facilities including the indoor farmyard, Wild West themed indoor play area and our Showtime Theatre which was opened by Michaela Strachan.

“This year we are concentrating on developing new outdoor areas including the UK’s biggest Jumping Pillow, a new Bird of Prey centre and the new Pirate Galleon play area.”

Dress like a pirate competitions are running over the Bank Holiday weekend.