A £250,000 children's activity centre opens in the county today, offering parents a new attraction for young children.

The 4,000sq ft Twiggys centre, on Thirsk Industrial Estate, offers youngsters aged ten years and under a fun area in which to play and ride on attractions.

Its design is based on the Yorkshire countryside where the man behind the centre, former police officer Mike Pannett, grew up.

There are five activity areas, each identified by a different character, such as a badger or fox.

Children will be able to run round each area and try out the different activities it offers in complete safety. The site also includes a four-lane slide and a helter skelter-type slide.

There will also be a magic-style door leading children on a journey through a series of rooms.

The idea for the centre came about when Mr Pannett, of Crayke, near Thirsk, left the police having decided on a change of career.

He said: "It's a very exciting project for us and also for the people of Thirsk. It will be absolutely fantastic for the town and it will be able to hold up to 95 children and their parents.

"We are doing something totally different and it's proving to be quite exciting and it's good for the children.

"It's also somewhere where children, whether visitors or locals, can go on a wet day for a couple of hours."

He is joined in running the venture by Lynn Sugden and it was funded by the Thirsk-based development team at Severfield-Reeve Projects.

Most of the design work was done in Europe with the bulk provided by workers in Germany.

A mezzanine floor has been fitted upstairs to form a party room which can be booked.

Already, inquiries have been made to local groups and schools about using the play centre.

Mr Pannett is thinking of making the Thirsk Twiggys the first of several based in the area.

The idea is still at an early stage and will depend largely on the success of the first venture.

Twiggys is open 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday and from 8am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.