Wildlife park up for sale 40 years after opening

A wildlife park has gone on the market 40 years after it first opened its doors.

Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park in north Devon announced the sale following "significant increases in operating costs".

The attraction was founded in 1986 and remained under the ownership of the Gilbert family, who said a new owner with "financial resources" would be the best way to secure the park's future.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision for our family," joint owners Dawn and Alan Gilbert said in a statement. "Running a zoo and major visitor attraction has become increasingly expensive, while continuing to develop a site like this requires substantial investment."

The Gilberts said: "The park has been part of our lives for decades and it is much more than simply a business to us.

"We believe there is considerable potential to broaden what the site offers, particularly through holiday accommodation, events and the further development of the wider estate."

They said they believed a new owner with more financial backing would be "best placed to take advantage of those opportunities and lead the park into its next chapter."

The park remains open while the owners seek a buyer.

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