WEST Midland Safari Park took the first step towards bouncing back from the effects of last year's foot and mouth epidemic at the weekend.

The Bewdley attraction opened its doors for the new season - and is hoping for bumper visitor numbers after the disease forced its closure for two weeks last Easter.

Subsequent visitor numbers were down as well. Spike, a six-week-old porcupine with Angela Potter, is one of the new arrivals at West Midland Safari Park.

And a set of sharp new arrivals are poised to give visitors a spiky welcome.

The park has acquired seven or eight porcupines. And other new arrivals, include a rhino while a giraffe was due to be unloaded yesterday.

Construction on a new 600-seat sea lion theatre, which will cost £500,000, is well underway with work due to be completed in time for Easter.

The theatre and a new exotic creatures house are being based at the redeveloped former pets corner which once housed goats and pigs.

Head warden Bob Lawrence said Saturday's opening had gone "very well".

"All indications are it's going to be a good year," he added.

The park certainly needs a good year after the previous one was described by Mr Lawrence as "the worst 12 months" in its history.