MORE than 1,200 youngsters from Hampshire and its neighbouring counties were given the time of their lives at Paultons Park yesterday.

They were at the Hampshire adventure park - named yesterday as the second most family-friendly adventure park in the country - as part of the Rotary Kids Out day which provided fun for 20,000 children nationwide.

After pouring into Paultons in cars, coaches and minibuses, the children, all with special needs, were helped around the park by about 1,150 Rotarians and helpers - and they loved it.

They made the most of the Stinger, the Teacup, the Rio Grande Train and the new Wave Runner and Flying Frog rides - and hundreds of them were given a splashing time on the Raging River ride.

The Paultons part of the national initiative was organised by Rotary District 1110, which covers east Dorset, south Wiltshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

District governor Brian Ray of the Fareham Meon club said: "It's a great fun day for all of them.

"We have been coming here for 11 years now and it's a superb place loved by kids from all over the country."

Many of the children were from the Southampton area and one of the helpers and teachers, Penny Cannons from Salterns School in Totton, said: "It is a chance for them to gain new experiences with people they understand and to have a lot of fun.

"The Rotary Club people who have organised the day have done a wonderful job."

One of the many Rotarians keeping busy was New Forest president John Robinson.

"They are wonderful kids and they love it here," he said.

"You have to choose what they go on, but there is such a range of things that there's something for all of them."