ENTRY fees have been slashed at Colchester Castle for the final weeks of the school summer holidays.

The castle, which reopened in May last year after a £4.3million revamp, announced prices have been cut by up to 26 per cent until the end of August.

An adult would normally be charged £7.60, but that has been reduced to £6. Children's admission has been cut from £4.75 to £3.50.

The offer comes into effect today and ends at 5pm on Monday, August 31.

The Gazette asked the council if price reductions were in response to reduced visitor numbers or if they had been pre-planned.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for licensing, community safety and culture, said: “It’s the final weeks of the school holidays and we want to give as many people as much chance as possible to visit our iconic castle. It has wowed thousands of families with its exciting new displays since reopening following its revamp last year.

“Colchester is lucky to have a number of fantastic attractions to visit, so the marketing strategy had accounted for a special offer, to ensure the castle remains competitive during the height of the tourist season.

“We understand keeping young family members occupied throughout the break on a budget can be tricky, so reducing our admission fees will also give parents and carers a helping hand.”