Isle of Wight residents and mainland visitors will be able to walk with dinosaurs for nothing next weekend when admission is free at the new Dinosaur Isle attraction at Sandown.
General manager Peter Pusey said: "We thought it would be nice to give something back to the community during this pre-Christmas period.
"Although we always knew Dinosaur Isle would be a major crowd-puller, its popularity has exceeded even our best predictions.
"We now fully expect the forecasted 60,000 people visiting from the time Dinosaur Isle opened in August to next April to be considerably surpassed.
The two free days - Saturday and Sunday - will also see staff on hand to identify fossils brought along by visitors.
Dinosaur Isle will be closed to the public between January 7 and 20 for remedial work to be undertaken by the contractor.
Mr Pusey said a new exhibit due to arrive in January would be a replica of a polacanthus. A distinctive feature of this creature, which once roamed the Island, are spines along its back and tail and a massive armoured shield over its hips.
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