THRILL-SEEKERS can get their next adrenaline fix in the North-East by trying out a unique zip wire – with an old London double-decker bus as the landing pad.

The 200-metre line is the latest attraction launched by the ROF 59 activity centre in Newton Aycliffe.

Those brave enough to give it a go will leap from a 19-metre platform before racing through the air at speeds of between 30 and 35mph before coming to stop on an old red bus.

It is thought to be the only zip line of its kind in the region.

ROF 59 founder John Finley said: “We wanted to come up with something completely different.

“We’ve had the land for a lot of years, and I had the idea when we first launched ROF 59 nearly three years ago.

"We were granted planning permission for it two years ago so it has been a work in progress – but we’ve tinkered with it because we wanted to get it absolutely spot on.

“Then came the bus idea.

"We needed a landing area to be at least five metres up from ground level, and we acquired an old London-style open-top bus, so we secured it into place and renovated it to create a bespoke landing pad.

"It really is quite unique.”

ROF 59 utilised the services of Lancashire-based Entre-Prises to install the new zip line, which is one of many new attractions added to ROF 59 in the last 12 months.

Earlier this year, a hair-raising 19-metre drop-zone was installed from which daredevil participants throw themselves from, before landing safely thanks to a harness and a freefall auto belay.

And at the end of 2017, ROF 59 revealed it had invested £350,000 in re-launching its climbing area with five new elements – adventure walls, speed climbing walls, a tower climbing area, mosaic climbing walls and ‘bouldering’.

Mr Finley added: “We’re always trying to come up with new and exciting ideas different from anything in the area and we think this is a genuine first for the North-East.

“But it won’t stop here – I’m already thinking of my next new and exciting activity, so watch this space.

ROF 59 originally underwent a £1.1m redevelopment three years ago, rejuvenating and transforming the old Presswork Metals building and former World War II munitions factory into its current form as a leisure venue.

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