Merlin Entertainments has invested a further £1m into Brighton Sea Life Centre, which will see the opening of a new Rainforest Adventure attraction later this month.

Rainforest Adventure will see aspects of a tropical jungle brought to the East Sussex seafront, with a number of new creatures being exhibited, including the world’s largest snake species: the nine-foot long, 16 kilo anaconda.

The investment from Merlin comes two years after the business also backed a £2m redevelopment of the centre.

“The redevelopment two years ago was to some extent forced upon us by the sheer age of the building,” said Max Leviston, general manager at the centre. “Its completion coincided with the 140th anniversary of what is the world’s oldest operating aquarium.”

Other species displayed in tanks, nestled amidst jungle foliage and realistic ruins of an ancient Inca temple, include poison dart frogs, piranhas and Chinese water dragons.

The attraction is to be officially launched on 29 March.