SANDFORD Holiday Park has received a £3.8million cash boost from its operator Parkdean Resorts.

The park, near Wareham, will now be given a major makeover.

This means new luxury accommodation at Sandford, including the addition of the Durdle Glamping Village which will feature a dozen new safari tents.

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Other new features include additional outdoor dining spaces, a new sports dome, a high ropes course, an arts and crafts den, and a dog agility course.

Bournemouth Echo: Sandford Holiday Park

There are also two new luxury lodges with hot tubs, set amongst woodland surroundings, and two new caravans.

Steve Richards, chief executive of Parkdean Resorts, said: "Despite the most challenging of years, we’re continuing to invest in our parks, and our parks of the future will create an even better experience for holidaymakers and holiday home owners in 2021.

"With industry-leading Covid-safe standards, we’re looking forward to welcoming people back safely, to enjoy everything our parks, and the surrounding areas, have to offer.

"We know how reliant the local economy is on tourism, and we’re confident that we can help the region recover by welcoming holidaymakers to enjoy a well-deserved staycation in Dorset.”

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Sandford Holiday Park employs almost 250 staff in season.

More than 60,000 holidaymakers attended the park in 2020.

Sandford is also currently hiring for a number of seasonal roles across sales, food and beverage, and housekeeping.

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A Parkdean Resorts spokesman said: "During a challenging 2020 – particularly for areas like Dorset, where the local economy is heavily reliant on tourism – Parkdean topped all furlough payments up to 100 per cent during lockdowns, donated tens of thousands of pounds worth of provisions to local food banks, and provided free accommodation for more than 100 NHS key workers at four holiday parks.

"In response to increased demand for staycations last summer, once lockdown lifted, the company hired record numbers of seasonal staff, and will recruit more seasonal workers this year as it prepares to bounce back again for the holiday season."