EVERY year more than 400,000 people visit WaterWorld, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

Built around a wave pool, the indoor aqua theme park boasts an impressive array of slides, rides and flumes designed for swimmers of all ages and abilities.

There is the four-lane multi-slide perfect for setting up races between family members. Then there's Twister, a white-knuckle ride which promises to take riders through a flume of twists, turns and steep chutes.

For younger visitors the Aqua Splash Jungle House promises a children's Ship-Wreck Slide and the Mushroom, which spurts out water and creates a constant mini-waterfall.

For Jayne and Nick Dickens, it was their first visit to the attraction. They decided to test out the park with the help of their daughters Yasmin, aged nine, five-year-old Chloe and Jayne's father Gerald Metcalf.

"We hadn't been to WaterWorld before and as it's a local attraction, we thought we'd give it a try," says Jayne, of Yeager Court, Yarnfield.

"It's very well-sign posted and located on Festival Park, Etruria.

"It cost us £44 for a family of five. It was dearer for the weekend than it is during the week, but this deal made it cheaper than paying individually. It was very busy and we only just got a space in the car park, which was free.

"A lot of people use the £5.99 return ticket, which is valid for three months, and it ends up a lot cheaper. "

Jayne says that although it's an exciting place for children, parents need to take extra care of their offspring.

"WaterWorld attracts young families who tend to spend the whole day there," she says.

"It's the type of place that thrills the children, but exasperates the parents as it's so easy to lose your child with all the crowds, water fountains and numerous play areas.

"They move so fast among it all and were so excited, we had to have eyes in the back of our heads."

Meanwhile she says the attraction is in need of a makeover.

"The whole place looks a bit tired and needs revamping," says Jayne. "There are rusting metal pipes, roofing and the floor has been patched up nearly everywhere where tiles have chipped away."

So although Yasmin and Chloe enjoyed the day out, the grown-ups in the party had their reservations.

"The current of the Rapids, one of the rides there, was safe enough for our five-year-old to swim in as it wasn't too strong and she could get out of it independently enough," says Jayne.

"The girls loved the Aqua Splash Jungle House and the slides there.

"I was also able to have a laugh watching my dad attempting an assault course too. He's quite a big kid at heart and went on the Black Hole three times.

"It's a huge slide that plunges you into the pool lower down, the kids found it a bit more exciting than him so I told him to try out the Space Bowl instead. This is a ride that turns you upside down, but he had more sense and refused."

After exploring the various rides on offer, the family got changed and went to enjoy some refreshment in the newly-opened cafe bar. "There were plenty of changing areas and showers are free but lockers cost 50p," says Jayne. "There is a snack bar inside the pool area where meal deals cost £4.99.

"We had a coffee and tea in the cafe, while the girls had Fruit Shoots and big chocolate muffins which they thoroughly enjoyed."