Colchester Castle Park mini golf could be open by the summer.

In September, Colchester Council asked operators to come forward with bids to run the attraction in the disused bowling greens in Lower Castle Park.

Firms were given until late November to register an interest and the Gazette understands two companies have submitted realistic bids which council bosses will examine before choosing a winner in March.

It means the mini golf could be open as early as this spring.

Colchester Council leader Paul Smith (Lib Dem) said: “Certainly what we are looking for is an operator which has done this sort of thing in the past.

“The key thing for us is experience.

“We want someone who we know will do a good job and really add to Castle Park.”

“This will be an exciting family-friendly attraction which we believe will give people even more of a reason to visit the town centre.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of people coming to the town, whether that is for the culture, the shopping or indeed the pubs and restaurants so to have this sort of thing on hand, especially during the spring and summer, will be a real bonus.

“It’s the sort of thing people from outside the area would come into the town to do and the hope is they would then use other facilities in the town which are already on offer.”

According to a tender sent out to private operators, the council, which owns the land, is set to offer the operator a 25 year lease on the site.

The plans were exclusively revealed by the Gazette in September after Colchester Council sent a tender invitation out to private operators.

Bids then had to be submitted to the council.

The exact details of the companies’ bids have not been made public.

Possible - could Colchester recreate Maldon's Splash Park?

Council bosses have also admitted tentative plans to explore the possibility of opening a splash park in Lower Castle Park.

If it was to go ahead, it would be created where the current boating lake is, close to the Middle Mill entrance to the park.