A soft play centre which was set to close this summer has been taken on by a family-run zoo.

Minor Mania in Tunbridge Wells will become jungle-themed Amazon Adventure after being acquired by Drusillas Park.

It was announced earlier this year that the family attraction in Bayham Road would be closing this summer.

However, after Laurence and Christine Smith, along with their children, Cassie Poland, Caroline Steer, and Ollie Smith, who run Drusillas, heard the news they decided to step in.

The 10-acre zoo near Alfriston, in East Sussex, has been operating since 1925 and the Smith family acquired the park in 1997.

They have since created two state-of-the-art animal habitats – a £250,000 lynx exhibit and a half-a-million-pound colobus monkey habitat.

With family roots in Tunbridge Wells, the family made the decision to expand their portfolio of attractions by taking on the soft play centre.

It will be managed by the family’s youngest daughter Caroline, who has more than a decade of experience at Drusillas.

She previously worked in operations, events and customer service.

Her two daughters Clementine and Fleur have acted as her “chief play testers and advisors” so she can create the best possible experience for families.

She said: “As a regular visitor to Minor Mania I know just how much it means to the local parenting community.

“A lifesaver on a rainy day, or that all important place to grab a coffee and keep the kids entertained so you can have a catch up with a friend, or enjoy a few minutes of breathing space.

“We want to retain as many of the features that customers love as we can, along with some updates and maintenance that will make Amazon Adventure a really first-class experience for families.

“We’ll also be bringing in our expert catering team to give the food and drink offering a refresh, as well as modernising the booking system.

“Customers want to be able to book their day out as quickly and easily as possible, so we’ll introduce the same ticketing software we have at Drusillas.

“This will ensure visitors have a seamless, efficient experience from start to finish.”

The soft play will be shutting as Minor Mania this Sunday and will reopen as Amazon Adventure on Saturday, July 20.

Drusillas managing director Cassie Poland added: “This very exciting announcement marks our first foray into expanding the well-known Drusillas brand.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring our years of experience in family-friendly attractions to create a unique and exhilarating soft play experience.

“Our Drusillas Park site in Alfriston already boasts an extremely popular soft play area, so we know what works to keep children and their parents happy and engaged.

“We’ll be making some updates to the venue to keep it fresh and fun, and ensuring there are delicious snacks and great coffee on offer for parents.

“We understand what makes a day out to remember and creates a superior experience for the whole family.

“We can’t wait to open the doors of Amazon Adventure and to start a whole new chapter of Drusillas history.”