HAMPSHIRE'S Paultons Park has been announced as the second most successful theme park in this years UK Theme Park Awards.

The awards, being run for the second year by ThemeParks-UK.com, called on members of the public to vote for their favourite theme parks to recognise the best rides, attractions, shows and events, as well as the offering the best customer service and value.

Expert Judges including Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions were combined with the publics vote to find the winners of 21 categories.

Now it has been revealed that Paultons Park near Ower won two of the categories, coming in as runner up in several more.

The park took the top spot in the Best New Attraction category for its ride, Storm Chaser, as well as coming in first in the Best Theme Park for Toddlers.

It also took Silver in the Best Theme Park for Families (Small) category, bronze in the Best Family Coaster category for Flight of the Pterosaur, Bronze in Best Food and Drink and bronze in Best Live Entertainment for ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter.

As well as this, it took silver in Best Customer Service, Best Value and Theme Park of the Year.

The honours made it the second biggest winner in the awards with nine accolades overall, just ahead of Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire (7) and Thorpe Park in Surrey (5).

Staffordshire's Alton Towers took the top spot with 15 awards overall.

A total of 176,370 public votes were combined with the scores from the Expert Judges to determine the winners in each category.