With just three weeks to go until its grand opening, the team at Dreamland remains positive that the park will be ready for visitors.

KentOnline has been given a sneak peek behind the scenes of the amusement park today.

The rides have already been installed and work is continuing to ensure it will be ready to welcome visitors on Friday, June 19.

Following an 11-year campaign, the site on the seafront in Margate is being turned into the country's first heritage amusement park.

It will feature rides celebrating Dreamland's 1960s heyday, when Margate was seen as a cool seaside resort for London holidaymakers.

The full list combines attractions from various decades, right back to the 1920s.

Rides will touch upon every 20th century decade of amusement parks with the iconic scenic railway rollercoaster representing the 1920s through to the modern day Drop Tower.

There will also be dodgems, a tea cup ride, a helter skelter and a big wheel.

Designer Wayne Hemingway has been helping to transform the seafront site for the last three and a half years, and says it is starting to look how he imagined.

He said: "This is Thanet’s community project, there was a fight to get it open and we need to fight to continue supporting Dreamland.

“What you see here today is just the start and not the finished article. About 15% of all our planned phases will be ready by opening day.

“But it’s like a young footballer who has just made it to the premiership and needs support to be a great success.

“We need the people of Thanet to tell their family and friends and get Dreamland to lead Margate’s resurgence as an enticing seaside town.

“What the Dreamland Trust has achieved has been fantastic with help from local people and Thanet council but we need to keep up the same pressure and enthusiasm because you can’t compare this place to anything in the world, it is completely unique.”

Project director Eddie Kemsley said: “The external amusements, with all rides, the roller disco and the children’s soft play area will all be 100% ready by June 19.

“Dreamland will feel like a permanent festival all year round with a re-entry system with people going in and out throughout the day, visiting the shops, going to the beach and coming back at their pleasure!

“There will be classic amusement park acoustics and even artificial scenting so visitors can soak up the atmosphere.”

Architect Ray Hole is confident the layout will spoil visitors for choice.

He said: “The architectural story of putting this together has been crucial. Standing in the middle by the roller disco there is a menu of choices with easy access.

“We have thought carefully about bringing things online and working without affecting other attractions which are already open to the public.”

The anticipation is palpable - visitors queued round the block to buy the fist tickets which went on sale earlier this year.

Those attending the opening event can look forward to full access to the new rides, as well as an eclectic line-up of entertainers including Chas and Dave.

The project is set out in four phases. Phase one is the opening which includes the external amusements, roller disco and children's soft play area.

Phase two of the project is set to be ready by summer with the opening of venues for music, dancing and comedians such as the Hall by the Sea.

The third phase is due to open next spring with a buffet building, the same involved in a small blaze last week.

The final part of phase three includes the opening of a cinema in 2016.

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