AN inflatable assault course and artificial beach are in the pipeline for an expanding watersports centre.

Festival Wakeboard Park, based at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park, hopes to open the attractions, as well as a new cafe, in time for the start of the summer holidays.

The inflatable course, which will be built on the park's lake, will feature a giant trampoline, water slides, a tightrope and climbing frames.

It will be the first of its kind in Essex.

Manager Tom Brooks, 27, said there are currently eight similar aqua parks across the country.

He said: “We are doing our best to add so much more.

"The aqua park and wakeboarding park is about giving youngsters a place to go and have fun in a safe environment.

“We opened back in 2012 and have come such a long way since then. The business is growing really fast, which is great.

“We are hoping to have the aqua park equipment on site in about four weeks time, and it could be another few weeks or so after that until the aqua park is up and running.

“We would like to be open by the next half term, but we still have a long way to go."

The cafe will be located inside a purpose built cabin next to the water sports centre's main reception.

A selection of hot and cold food and drinks will be on offer.

Mr Brooks added: “We are aiming for a more healthy option of food in the cafe but this is still to be confirmed.

He said the inflatable aqua park will be available to thrill seekers of all ages.

He said: "It will have a of range inflatable things such as bouncy castles, large slides and things like that.

“We anticipate that this will be more popular with children, but we are aiming it at all ages including adults.

“The water is currently around two and a half metres deep and we will not need to make the water deeper for these inflatables on the water.

“These will be tied down and secured for safety. What we want is to make sure we can cater for all different ages and people."

The park offers wakeboarding lessons for all abilities, ranging from beginners to world champions.

For more information, visit festwake.com