IT'S NOT often an engineering firm has the chance to work on a new castle.

Romsey-based consulting civil and structural engineers WFBA recently visited Paultons Park to view visitors enjoying latest addition to its hugely Peppa Pig World attraction – The Queen's Castle.

WFBA’s Director Nick Groves said that they were proud to add a Castle to their list of more unusual projects for whichthey have provided structural analysis.

“As the new Castle, complete with a family ride that travels through its two towers will see more visitors than many of Hampshire’s historic castles and fortifications, we are delighted to have been involved in this latter day landmark,” said Nick.

The £3m Queen’s Castle officially opened at Peppa Pig World in May as part of a large extension to the land including two brand new rides, The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride and Grampy Rabbit’s Sailing Club!.

“Peppa Pig is now a worldwide phenomenon with ever increasing popularity amongst pre-school children. The UK exclusive Peppa Pig World here at Paultons has been enjoyed by millions of guests since it opened in 2011” said Paultons managing director Richard Mancey. “We are pleased to utilise suppliers in the region including WFBA who can enhance our projects with their professionalism and enthusiasm.”

The castle is not the first Paulton project that the WFBA team has worked on – they also helped design the Velociraptor and Flight of the Pterosaur rollercoasters within the park's Lost Kingdom attraction, which opened in May 2016. They carried out details structural calculations to ensure the foundations would carry the loads and forces specified by the ride designers.