The sleeping giant of Dreamland amusement park was woken from its slumbers by thousands of eager visitors keen to get behind the rebirth of famous seaside attraction.

The gates were open to the public for the first time in seven years at the weekend as the Dreamland Trust’s chairman Nick Laister invited visitors in to unveil plans ahead of its reopening in 2015.

Jan Leandro, the Heritage and Engagement Manager at the organisation, said: “It was the day that the community took Dreamland back.

"This is the first time Dreamland has been empty with nothing there apart from the scenic railway waiting to be restored so there will be a new generation that will be able to say to their grandchildren when Dreamland’s up and running, ‘I remember this as an empty site’ and that’s an extraordinary thing because that’s never been the case.”

The event followed a legal challenge which resulted in Thanet District Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order, which cleared the path for its regeneration to get underway.

Jan Leandro feels it is now a time to look ahead.

She said: “It is about the Dreamland heritage, we do have the historic rides collection but it will be unique and new. It will be unlike any other Dreamland that anybody has known. It’s important that it’s fit for a 21st century audience.”

The Dreamland Trust recently revealed the Amusement Park will have rides including the Double Decker Rocket, Hurricane Jets and the Austin Car Ride.

A fundraising art auction Dreamland’s disused art deco cinema building saw works donated by high-profile figures including Tracey Emin, Vic Reeves and Anne Carrington go under the hammer, with money raised going towards opening the Dreamland Vintage Arcade Visitor and Learning Centre next spring.

For a full story and pictures see this week’s KM Thanet Extra newspaper.