A CHILDREN’S fun park is undergoing a £500,000 revamp to add a crazy golf course, driving school and new rollercoaster to its attractions.

Leisure Island on Canvey is set to go under a major overhaul after securing a lease to expand the seafront site.

Scott Petty, 53, managing director, is hoping 70 new jobs will be created as a 18-hole dinosaur themed crazy golf course, a LegoLand style driving school and a new rollercoaster is added.

It comes as nearby funfair Fantasy Island on Canvey seafront goes through a £100,000 revamp with a new mini golf course and carousel ride.

Mr Petty said: “Because of how Canvey seafront is going and getting more popular we want to expand the business and over the last few years Castle Point Council has been keen to promote the seafront.

“The council identified a piece of land as commercial land and we bid for it and agreed a lease with the council. It will give us three times more attraction space and it’s just over twice as big as the park.

“One of the conditions from the council was to have an adventure golf for a buffer between the park and residents.

“It will be an 18 hole crazy golf course. There will also be a children’s driving school like at Legoland, with traffic lights and crossings.

“The council is also very keen on that as well. We also need to spread out the rides we’ve got, but we’re keeping the park for children under 11.

“There will also be a very small rollercoaster coming to the park too. The whole investment will cost about £500,000.”

The park owner said he hopes work will start in September with the project also including underground tanks for rain and flooding.

The expansion will create 70 jobs initially, but this could rise.

He added: “There will be about 250 staff when it’s all finished and we currently have about 90. Every business on the seafront is investing and developing.

“We starting talking to the council about expanding in 2009. The council has also been upgrading the car parks and the seafront will have so much to offer soon. We are also working with the attraction supplier The Manning Group so we have the firm’s backing too.”