NORTH Yorkshire wildlife and theme park Flamingo Land has posted a 12 per cent rise in revenues to almost £28 million as it invests in expanding its operations North of the Border.

In its results for the year ending March 31, 2017, filed just this month, the Kirby Misperton based attraction reported pre-tax profits of £1.3 million, up from one million the year before.

The directors attributed a rise in revenues from £24.8 million to £27.8 million to “improvements in three key areas of the business”, including general park admissions, the holiday village and related activities, and catering services and sales.

In a report accompanying the accounts, the business said: “As reported last year, significant investment has been made in the holiday village facilities and it is clear from these reports that the company is seeing rewards for this investment.

“While turnover has shown significant increase, the company continues with the established policy of ensuring that the park is well maintained.

“As a consequence, repair and upkeep costs were £2.5 million up from £2.36 million in 2016. Repair costs continue to be a very significant expense due to the continual need to ensure that all of the facilities at this vast location are kept in good condition.

“The directors aim to maintain the policies which have resulted in the company’s growth in recent years. They plan to continue to invest in new rides and attractions as and when necessary to keep the theme park at the forefront of the sector.”

The company made a number of investments during the period, including £959,000 in the purchase and associated costs of land in Scotland, which is says “may present an opportunity to develop the company’s leisure activities further”.

Various projects around the theme park were also completed in the year including the Pirate Show Ship at a cost of £600,000.

During the year the company made charitable donations amounting to £65,000 up from £55,000 in 2016. These donations include £1,550 to local causes and £33,288 to a conservation project in Tanzania which is closely related to the company’s desire to develop and improve the welfare of wild animals in the care of the company and in the world at large. A political donation of £25,000 was made to the Conservative Party.