THOUSANDS of nature-lovers flocked to see Sir David Attenborough open a brand new park.

The legendary broadcaster visited Thurrock's Thameside Nature Park in Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, on Saturday, May 11 to officially open it.

Residents of Stanford-le-Hope, Linford and East Tilbury put their name into a ballot for 500 pairs of tickets for the event.

Visitors were given guided tours of the 120-acre site before a speech and presentation by the broadcaster as well as members of the Essex Wildlife Trust - the group behind the project.

The park, in Mucking Wharf Road, will eventually encompass 845 acres, with 263 acres currently open to the public.

Sir David spoke to some children who were watching wildlife in the bird hide as well as visiting the park's visitor centre, designed to resemble a Martello Tower, which has recently won an architectural award.

The building has a rooftop terrace offering views across the estuary to DP World's new billion-pound superport as well as being built on a moveable base. This is so as the methane gas under the soil is piped out to a nearby power station and the ground drops - the building can be raised to compensate.

Colin Hornsby, 40, came to the opening with his wife, Lorraine, 39, and daughters Rachel, 11 and Nicola, eight.

The family, from Stanford-le-Hope, already visit the park regularly because the children belong to the Muck In after-school club.

Colin said: "We are really fortunate to have this on our doorstep. It's a half-hour, 45-minute walk from our front door.

"Linford and East Tilbury have suffered so much with the smell at last something good is going to come out of it."

For more information about the park, go to www.essexwt. org.uk/reserves/thurrock-thameside.

See the full, exclusive interview with Sir David Attenborough as well as the head of the Essex Wildlife Trust in this week's Thurrock Gazette.