Exclusive by Peter Barnett

Comedian and television personality Joe Pasquale wants to see the glory days brought back to Margate's Dreamland fun park.

The funny man used to visit the town as a child on family holidays from Essex and Dreamland was a big draw for him and tens of thousands of others every year.

He said: "I loved Dreamland and it is sad that it is not open at the moment.

" I would support any plan to turn it into a nostalgia park with heritage rides celebrating the seaside funparks of yesteryear.

"It cannot hope to compete with the super fast death-defying ride centres like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park but it does have its own special charm.

"Dreamland amusement park is part of so many summer seaside holiday memories for so many people across several generations and I still believe it has a place in the town's entertainments future. The upkeep of a revitalised Dreamland would be a critical fact but if people are planning to reopen it as a nostalgic ride centre, I would be all for it.

"I am Kent boy and live in Rochester, so anything that brings life back to the Kentish seaside at resorts like Margate is a good idea."

Joe will visit Margate Winter Gardens on Saturday, August 8, as part of his summer seaside tour. He said: "I am looking forward to playing in Margate again. They always have a great crowd there. We've never been in more need of a good laugh than now - I can't promise a solution to the global meltdown, but I can offer two hours of escapism."

Contact Margate Winter Gardens on 01843 296111 for more details about Joe's summer show.