Celebrities flocked to the opening of Chessington World of Adventures (CWOA) new Croc Drop ride this weekend as the lockdown easing saw visitors return to the park.

Closed for most of the previous year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the park was able during that time to complete work on a new ride that has since been dubbed 'The Croc Drop'.

The stomach-churning drop plummets 25 metres and is the first new ride at the park since 2013.

Among those taking the plunge over the weekend were a host of famous faces from UK music and television, including Strictly Come Dancing contestant and Good Morning Britain presenter, Ranvir Singh, Blue member, Antony Costa, Pop Idol star Mark Rhodes and Presenter Jamie Theakston.

"After riding Croc Drop, Mark Rhodes said: "Croc Drop was so so good, we all loved it. The kids couldn’t get enough".

Sonali Shah who was also spotted enjoying the park described her own experience of the drop: "It was amazing, my stomach just about held up! I think I might be riding Croc Drop several times this afternoon…"

The ride is based on Sobek, an Egyptian crocodile god who protected the Nile but for the purposes of the ride has since been "possessed by evil spirits, transforming him into a cruel deity".

CWOA said they have introduced a number of safety measures to comply with government advice on Covid-19 and were still limiting the number of guests at the Park and resort to allow for social distancing.