A tiger at Wingham Wildlife Park - one of the top attractions in this year's ballot

A record number of entries has been made for free tickets to see Kent's top attractions.

More than 47,000 applications have been made for the My Kent Big Weekend 2013 ballots in the first five days of the website going fully live.

That has smashed last year's record, which saw 40,500 applications in the first seven days.

The website, offering 17,000 plus free tickets to more than 100 of the county’s top attractions, will remain open for applications until midnight, Monday February 18.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive of Visit Kent, said: “The enthusiasm for our My Kent Big Weekend, now in its seventh year, just continues to grow.

"And we love being able to showcase our county’s highly impressive range of activities, themed attractions and heritage destinations to local people and know they will have a great day out.

“This is a Kent event for Kent people. Much of its success year on year is down to all our county media partners who give us so much support and make sure their readers and listeners don’t miss out on a special treat.

“And our ballot system means that every application made while the website is open has an equal chance.

"However, applications for less familiar destinations with fewer entries are, of course, much more likely to be successful.”

Ticket applications so far have been spread across the board taking in international icons, such as Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral, alongside water sports, golf, art and bushcraft courses.

Wingham Wildlife Park, Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park currently head the top 10 for applications - closely followed by Leeds Castle, Diggerland, Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Dickens World, Wildwood, Kent & East Sussex Railway and the Spa Valley Railway.

My Kent Big Weekend 2013 is being held on March 23 and 24.

People without internet access can apply for free My Kent Big Weekend tickets, two per Kent household, at visitor information centres across the county.