Derbyshire County Council is currently paying a company to keep the 112-acre site at Shipley secure after concerns people were trespassing there.

The announcement of the Ventureworld-owned park's closure a year ago followed falling visitor numbers and a period of difficult trading.

The last remaining rides, including the Log Flume, the Rocket and buildings at the cowboy shoot-out area such as Lilo Lil's saloon are being bulldozed with the voids being filled in as an added health and safety measure to make the area safer.

The £90,000 cost will be recovered when the site is sold.

A county council spokesperson said there had already been some interest in the site although nothing concrete. On the county council's website the area, which has a large lake at its centre, is marketed as an ideal location for a mixed-use waterside development.

It states 'high-tech business, leisure, recreation, tourism and educational uses considered suitable, subject to planning permission.'

Most of the rides and memorabilia were sold off at auction last year with people buying items including costumes from the parks wild west themed shows and boats from the log flume being sold for up to £100.