CROWDS of children went barmy for Barney -- the popular purple dinosaur -- as he launched his new video at Blackpool Zoo.

Nearly 10,000 visitors flocked to the award-winning animal park during the fine weather last Saturday (May 11) and Sunday (May 12) to sing and dance along with Barney.

Sunday was especially busy with police reporting that at one point cars were backed up from the zoo car park to the exit of the M55.

Zoo spokesman Tony Williams said: "I am delighted that the zoo continues to be one of Blackpool's most popular attractions.

"The animal feeds and keeper talks are proving to be very popular and so is gorilla mountain, where our new female gorilla Njeema is enjoying the early summer weather."