A former King of the Jungle swapped the Australian rainforest for a former Maidstone Zoo this afternoon.

Christopher Biggins opened the new visitors’ centre and cafe on the site of the former zoo in Aylesford on Monday afternoon.

Biggins completed the Bushtucker Bonanza in 2007 to be crowned King of the Jungle in the ITV show, but there’ll be no bugs on the menu when he opens the park.

Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake Visitor Centre and Café at Cobtree Manor Park.

The new centre bares the name of former Cobtree Estate owner, and 12 times Mayor of Maidstone, who ran the Maidstone Zoo in the park from 1934 to 1959.

The star will by joined by schoolchildren keen to try out the new equipment when he cuts the ribbon at the site in Forstal Road, Aylesford.

The new centre and play areas at the 54-acre site are all zoo-inspired, including a sculpture trail through the ground.

It was funded by a £300,000 grant from the Cobtree Charity Trust and follows a total of £1.2 million of recent improvements to the park. New play equipment has been installed along with a running route.

Roger Hext, Chairman of the Cobtree Charity Trust, said: “The Cobtree Charity Trust was delighted to fund the new Visitor Centre in Cobtree Manor Park.

“The recent improvements have made sure that the park is one of the borough’s most beautiful and popular attractions, and the new centre is the finishing touch.

“It is a fitting tribute to the memory of Sir Garrard who I am sure would have been very proud of what has been achieved in the park and will give so much pleasure to the people of Maidstone.”

The council has a 999-year lease of the park but holds it in trust for the benefit of the people of Maidstone through the Cobtree Manor Estate Trust. The trust funds and runs the park and is financially independent from Maidstone Borough Council.

In 2014, the park received the national Green Flag Award – a coveted accolade recognising high standards and excellent facilities.