IT'S six minutes of excitement mixed with pure fear. Valhalla, a log fume ride with a difference, opened this week at the popular theme park attraction in Blackpool. I took my friend to test out whether it lived up to the hype - and I can now say it's a ride I'll never forget.

But a word of warning for anyone thinking of travelling over to Blackpool to experience the ride - a change of clothes or a good raincoat is essential. Otherwise, like us, you'll end up walking around wearing damp clothes all day.

Costing £15 million, the log boats take you on a Viking Adventure journey through extremes of temperature, from a freezing -20 degrees in the ice room to a sweltering 110 degrees when you pass through a wall of fire.

There are snow, fire, water, and thunder and lightning effects, and journeys at breakneck speed down a steep, unending slope, and we found ourselves putting our hands in front of our faces several times, believing we were certain to be struck.

A lot of the ride is in total darkness and that creates the terror. I just kept thinking: what on earth is this ride going to do next? We were at the front of the boat, and that ensured we had a true shower when the boat plunged the watery depths.

One of the scariest moments came when we thought the Viking boat had run amok and was going to be propelled off the ride - luckily it was just a tease and the boat was turned round and then ran away down a big black drop.

The Viking ride is built on the site of the Fun House, which was destroyed by fire in 1991, and the foundations were supplied by York building firm Shepherds.

The park has been preparing for the Valhalla for several years but its launch day did see some teething problems. Many riders only got to stand in a long queue outside the ride and admire the giant man-made waterfall pumping 12,000 gallons of water a minute.

But the park said yesterday that the ride was up and running and was ready to take up to 2,000 riders an hour this weekend.

Prepare to queue and most certainly get soaked but in return you're guaranteed a thrilling adventure you'll never forget.

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The ride costs £4.50 or, if you want to try out the other attractions, a wrist band costs £25. Watch out for special offers on the day.

For the summer months, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is open from 10am and will stay open while the park is busy, usually about 10pm at the weekends.

We travelled by Northern Spirit to Blackpool costing £22.10 return. For train information, call 0845 7484950.

For more information on the pleasure beach, call 01253 341033, or log on to www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk.