A NEW children’s play zone opens in Southampton today.

The £3-million pound activity centre will include climbing walls, a trampoline park, racing cars, soft play - and the UK’s very first ‘interactive zone’, where children can create characters and “bring them to life on the walls”.

The INJOY Centre will be situated at the former cinema at Ocean Village, and opens to adventure-loving families on Friday July 12.

It is not just opening for children as the centre aims to provide a host of fun activities for different ages, from babies to teenagers and adults, all under one roof, and trained individuals will be present on-site.

Families can also test their limits at its indoor assault course, featuring a 6-metre high slide, airbag and ‘leap of faith’ challenge, art workshops, cookery classes and party rooms for birthdays and celebrations.

Bumper cars can also be used in the soft play area for £1.

There will be a plastic-free restaurant for families and groups of friends, which will make freshly-prepared dishes including pizza, pasta, burgers and salads ,while parents and guardians can enjoy a drink in a separate upstairs bar area, where their children on the large multi-level soft play area on the ground floor can be fully seen.

Free wifi will also be available at the site.

The play centre will also increase employment in Southampton, with approximately 40 full and part-time staff roles being created for the area.

Meredith Donnelly, manager of INJOY Centre, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming families from across the south when the doors open at INJOY Centre next month.

“It will be great to see what the reaction is from our guests who use the mesmerising interactive zone, which is a unique new experience for the UK, and has to be seen to be believed.”

She added: “We have spent a long time making sure that we can offer the best possible day out for babies, children, teenagers and adults.

“We wanted to create a warm, safe place where everyone in the family can enjoy time spent together under one roof.”

The Southampton venue is one of two locations where the INJOY Centre is situated, alongside its Derby location.

The centre will be open every day between 9am and 9pm with parking available.

Prices range from £8 at off-peak times to £10 during peak hours.

Those wanting to attend can book in advance online at https://www.injoycentres.com/locations/southampton/.