FAMOUS and elusive street and graffiti artist Banksy can thank an East Lancashire landscape firm for his runaway Weston-super-Mare success Dismaland.

The spoof on Disneyland proved so popular its website crash under the weight of demand for tickets and hundreds of Somerset locals queued up for entry.

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But the whole projects, described by the artist as a “family theme park unsuitable for children” depended on a team of specialists from Chorley-based Glendale to lay the foundations for its success.

David Buckley, contract manager at Glendale, said: “This was a top secret project which required us to deploy our specialist skills within a restricted time frame to ensure the area was ready for the big reveal.”

A team from the firm cleared the land in preparation for the exhibition.

Dismaland, located on the 2.5 acre site of a former lido on the Weston-super-Mare seafront, is a six-week attraction showcasing work from 58 artists including Banksy, Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty.

Glendale was asked to work on the project as part of its £17.5 million contract with North Somerset Council, for which it delivers grounds maintenance, tree surgery, recycling services and beach management.

The team worked around the clock delivering cleansing services and vegetation clearance, before large installations and theme park features were brought in.

All routes into the town were also spruced up in anticipation of an influx of visitors.

Street artist Banksy’s trademark is his incorporation of social and political commentary into his works, which have famously appeared on public spaces in cities around the world.