Colchester soft play bus unveiled by Island Inflatables

Lee Atkins, from West Mersea, stripped the double-decker bus and kitted it out with ramps, climbing spots and a slide for youngsters to enjoy.

It will soon be made available for families to hire from Island Inflatables, which Mr Atkins founded with his wife Joanne 23 years ago.

The businessman, 53, said he believes adults will feel like they’ve missed out when they lay their eyes on his passion project.

Exciting - the bus was debuted at the Lakelands Centre in Stanway on Monday (Image: Island Inflatables)

Action - inside the renovated bus (Image: Island Inflatables)

It was debuted at the Lakelands Centre in Stanway on Monday ahead of its grand rolling out.

“Everyone loved it, it was absolutely brilliant, the reaction we’ve had has been fantastic and it proved really popular,” said Mr Atkins.

The two-storey bus has been kitted out to include two main levels of play equipment with a series of platforms creating a intermediary third floor.

Youngsters can enjoy climbing through holes to access the levels before jumping on a slide to get back down.

Adrenaline - youngsters can vault different platforms onboard (Image: Island Inflatables)

Kitted out - children can climb to the top floor before riding a slide back down (Image: Island Inflatables)

Rotating lights and a music system also add to the adrenaline-fuelled experience they are taking on.

Mr Atkins said: “It’s not the money side of things for us, we think about the children and their enjoyment.

“Every child that’s out there, I treat them like my own. If I wouldn’t let my children on a piece of equipment then I won’t let someone else’s.”

He explained the trial run of the soft play bus on Monday gave him a chance to look for an improvements he can make.

Design - the bus' interior (Image: Island Inflatables)

Fun - owner Lee Atkins admitted he has played onboard the bus (Image: Island Inflatables)

Soft play - the bus is Lee and Joanne Atkins' latest addition to Island Inflatables (Image: Island Inflatables)

And no-one could stop the 53-year-old from having a go himself.

“I must admit I was playing on it with the kids on Monday and it was great fun,” said Mr Atkins.

“Thankfully it all went really well; the children loved it and when I revealed it on Facebook people went mad.

“My wife and I set our business up after having a bad experience of hiring inflatables and we just want to make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone else.”