People who remember going to Wicksteed Park to play as children are being offered the chance to go back and work there.

One of the biggest annual recruitment drives in Northamptonshire is gearing up to offer about 150 people the chance to work at the home of children’s play in Kettering.

And this year Wicksteed Park is also encouraging older applicants, giving people who have grown up knowing all about the park and its history, the opportunity to work there too.

For nearly 100 years, children have been thrilled by a visit to Wicksteed Park and its many wonders.

The park was created by Charles Wicksteed as part of his vision to inspire and encourage play and outdoor exercise as part of families’ health and well-being.

While the gates are open all year round for people to enjoy the playground and the park grounds, the rides and attractions only open for the year in the spring.

That requires a major recruitment drive to bring in the required full and part-time staff before the park’s rides officially open for the season on Saturday, March 28.

Application forms will be available to download from the park’s website from Sunday, ahead of a selection process in the coming weeks.

Many of those who fill the temporary jobs each year are students and some will do three or four years in a row or stay and become full members of staff.

But this year the park is also encouraging older applicants – giving people who have grown up using the park and knowing its history the chance to work there too.

Wicksteed Park’s managing director Alasdair McNee said: “As soon as we close for the season we start thinking about the following year and we have been planning for this summer for a long time now.

“For 2015 there are plans for a new lakeside play feature built out of natural stone, a new indoor play area, a sand and water play area, a walk-through aviary and a new covered drop slide.

“There is also the new RUSH zipwire and activity tower, which we opened last year.

“We are encouraging older people to apply for jobs this year as we feel there are lots of people out there with experience and a love of the park which we can benefit from.

“There will be training for the new recruits, showing them things such as how to set up their ride or attraction, how to operate it and what to do in an emergency.”

For more information about how to apply for a seasonal job at Wicksteed Park, and to download an application form go to the website.