A NIGHTMARE scenario has finally started to turn into a dream for the owners of Washford's Tropiquaria Zoo as they await an influx of princesses and knights during half term next week.

The zoo was facing massive bills to relocate sensitive primates away from the ongoing construction of a new roundabout at Washford Cross.

An existing play fort also had to be moved to make way for the new animal enclosures.

But with funding from the Hinkley Point C Community Impact Mitigation (CIM) Fund, zoo bosses were able to press ahead with the works without leaving a huge hole in their finances.

The attraction was given up to £37,350 to relocate the popular play equipment, plus £40,000 for new primate enclosures from the fund.

The new play castle, which has been completed just in time for the school holidays, has poles to slide down, a slide, and a zip wire in case anyone needs to make a speedy escape.

Tropiquaria zoological director Chris Moiser said: "When we realised how close the new Washford Cross roundabout and approach roads were going to be to our property, we were very worried because of the impact on our animals, our visitors and our visitor numbers.

"It was essential that we moved some of our most sensitive animals from the immediate area but, unfortunately, the planners wanted the new cages to go where the old play fort was and for a time this meant that we would effectively be reducing our facilities.

"However, the CIM committee and the district council's new nuclear manager Andrew Goodchild got together and came up with a solution with which we are very pleased."

The Washford Cross roundabout will serve a planned park and ride facility at the nearby Smithyard Terminal which will be used to ferry workers to and from EDF's planned Hinkley Point C power station development.

West Somerset Council holds the purse strings to the £4 million CIM Fund pot, which has been paid for by EDF Energy to offset the impact of site preparation works at Hinkley Point.

The district council has the power to make final decisions on grant allocations, but is largely led by recommendations made by the Hinkley Point C Planning Obligations Board which is made up of representatives from West Somerset Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset County Council and EDF.

Mr Moiser said several companies had tendered for the job to move the play equipment, but the most imaginative ideas came from designer Mike Newman and a company called Natural Play.

"They were also able to do the work within budget and quickly, once the planning had gone through.

"At the completion of the project an independent ROSPA inspector came and had a look and was very pleased with the job," Mr Moiser said.

"The associated animal movements are starting to take place and the most sensitive animals have now been moved, although we a little behind with some of the others, ironically through problems in obtaining the materials."