A NORTH Yorkshire theme park has appealed to the Government to protect its new multimillion-pound tourist attraction.

Bosses at Flamingo Land, between Malton and Pickering, officially opened their 55m Cliffhanger ride, part of a seaside-themed addition to the park, earlier this year.

But nearby residents complained the lighthouse tower ride was an "eyesore", and Ryedale District councillors ruled that enforcement action must be taken to strip it of its red-and-white striped cladding, leaving it as open lattice work. Boss Gordon Gibb warned that the company would appeal to the highest court in the land, and now it is preparing a case ahead of an appeal before a Government Inspector. A hearing is set for March next year.

Melanie Wood, Mr Gibb's sister and joint owner, said: "We will obviously be attending the appeal - we still do feel we have a strong case to put forward. We would hope that the appeal will end in our favour 100 percent - I don't know what a possible compromise could be."

Updated: 12:16 Wednesday, November 13, 2002