VISITORS to the Cotswolds this month can be forgiven for thinking they have accidentally gate-crashed an away day for palaeontologists.

The pretty village of Bourton-on-the-Water has temporarily been invaded by an array of life-sized dinosaur models based on those roaming that area more than 65 million years ago.

Birdland - the nine acres of park, gardens and woodland which creates a picturesque canopy for the winding River Windrush - is preparing to open its new Jurassic Journey trail.

And to give it that authentic touch there is a wealth of life-like new arrivals including a Brachiosaurus, Spinosaurus, Postosuchus, Velociraptor and a group of Dilophosaurus alongside a skeletal Sabre Tooth tiger.

The new Jurassic Journey opens on Saturday May 23 which takes visitors on a fascinating expedition back through time to an era when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Birdland manager Simon Blackwell said: “We’re delighted to get the first of the dinosaurs delivered and are looking forward to introducing them to their new home.

“The figures are large, unusually-shaped and tricky to unload so we’re especially pleased they have all arrived safe and well.

“We’re expecting many more dinosaurs to be arriving over the next few days so don’t be surprised if you spot them making their way here,” he added.

Other new species set to arrive in the coming days include spectacular flying Pteranodon, Velociraptors, Allosaurus, and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Armed with special dinosaur tracker kits, visitors will be able to venture into a Jurassic-themed landscape which is home to more than 30 different dinosaurs ranging from a metre-long baby Stegosaurus to giant Triceratops which grew to more than seven metres in length.

Visitors will also be able to spot giant dinosaur eggs along with complete dinosaur skeletons.

As well as providing an exciting new attraction for visitors, the ‘Jurassic Journey’ trail is also a reminder that today’s bird species are directly descended from dinosaurs.

A selection of living birds are included in the trail and, as if to welcome their distant ancestors, a group of ratites has just begun laying eggs.

• Birdland offers visitors a chance to discover exotic and rare birds as they explore the park and gardens. Flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, cassowary and waterfowl live in the riverside habitat with parrots, owls, pheasants, hornbills, touracos and many more inhabiting over 50 aviaries. Temperate and Desert Houses are home to birds which enjoy hotter and drier conditions.