GENEROUS bosses at Marwell Zoo have extended a cut-price entry offer to mark its 35th birthday following an overwhelming response.

And staff have urged as many people as possible wanting to visit the popular attraction to avoid this Sunday. The promotion, run in the Daily Echo, will admit adults for just 40p and children for 25p - the prices when the park opened in 1972.

So many people have applied for the specially-priced tickets, originally only valid for this Sunday, that the tickets will now be valid until December 31, 2007.

Marwell is appealing to visitors not to turn up this Sunday if they can make it another day, as it is anticipating huge queues to get into the Colden Common attraction. Staff have urged visitors who decide they will come and not wait to use their tickets on a later date - including the main summer school holidays - to consider using public tranpsort.

To qualify for the extension, please send in your vouchers to the Southern Daily Echo Offer, Marwell Zoo, Colden Common, Winchester, Hamp-shire, SO21 1JH.

If you have already sent in your vouchers to the Daily Echo then your tickets will arrive in the post, though Marwell says that it cannot guarantee that all vouchers received will be returned in time for this Sunday.

To claim your Anniversary Ticket you must send your vouchers from the Daily Echo now to:Southern Daily Echo Offer, Marwell Zoo, Colden Common, Winchester, Hants, SO21 1JH.

For further information, contact Rob Lee on 01962 777982 or Amanda Morrissey on 01962 777927.

How to get to Marwell RAIL: The nearest train stations are Eastleigh (five miles) and Southampton Airport Parkway (seven miles). For train timetables visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

BUS: FROM SOUTHAMPTON For travel between Southampton and Eastleigh, use Blue Star 2.

From Eastleigh take the No. 43 Eastleigh to Waltham Chase bus.

A bus leaves Eastleigh bus station for Marwell at 10.45am with a journey time of approximately 20 minutes.

Buses depart the zoo for Eastleigh bus station at 3.35pm and 5.05pm.

For more information, contact Solent Blue Line on 023 8061 8233 or visit www.solentblueline.com.

FROM WINCHESTER For travel between Southampton and Winchester use route 46.

From Winchester take the No. 69 Winchester to Fareham bus.

Buses depart Winchester bus station every two hours from 10.05am.

The journey takes approximately 20 minutes.

Return buses leave the zoo for Winchester bus station every two hours from 10.08am, taking approximately 30 minutes.

For more information contact Stage Coach on 0870 608 2608 or visit www.stagecoachbus.com.