Construction work has begun on the new hotel at the Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire.

The new 150-room hotel is designed primarily to meet demand from visitors to the theme park, it having seen an upsurge in visitor numbers following the arrival of Thomas Land in 2008.

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2011, the hotel will feature themed bedrooms, including ones from the Thomas & Friends series.

Also on offer will be extensive conferencing and hospitality facilities, complementing those already at the theme park, plus two restaurants, a coffee shop and a crèche.

Colin Bryan, managing director of Drayton Manor, said: "The Drayton Manor Park Hotel has been long-awaited and I'm pleased that after many hurdles and a lengthy planning process building work has finally begun.

"This year marks our 60th Anniversary so we like to think of the new hotel as our gift to the park to mark the occasion. We also hope that providing onsite accommodation will enable visitors to make the most of their time at the park and contribute towards our commitment to providing total family entertainment."

Pic: At the ground breaking ceremony. From left - The Fat Controller, managing director Colin Bryan, Bob the Builder