This week for Looking Back we are looking at when dino-mania came to West Dorset.

The original Jurassic Park released in 1993 and directed by Steven Spielberg, caught the imagination of the region, and not only created a new generation of dinosaur lovers, but helped business to boom.

In the Bridport News edition, July, 16 1993, Maureen Hymas published an article on the day the film was released in the UK, after making nearly £130 million in its first three weeks at the US Box Office.

The film, staring Sir Richard Attenborough, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern, had a big impact on West Dorset.

One such business to benefit at the time, was reported in the Bridport News edition, July, 23 1993 by David Cozens.

Lyme Regis, which in 1811 became a worldwide phenomenon after Marry Anning discovered a fossilised Ichthyosaur on a nearby beach, was one of the areas that felt the buzz of the event.

Brian Langdon, Lyme Fossil Shop owner, was quoted in the piece as selling giant-sized fossilised brontosaurus droppings at £2000 a time.

The shop had purchased two, each weighing more than 50 kilograms.

Mr Langdon said: "We are delighted to have secured these specimens. Japanese buyers were interested too and we beat them to it."

The success of the film saw business boom for those that specialised in Jurassic-themed services.

Mr Langdon said: "We, like almost everybody in our trade, are finding that interest in fossils and the big creatures of millions of years ago is spiralling."

The same was also felt at Dinosaurland in Lyme Regis, where visitor numbers were up 80 per cent and sales of film spin-offs soaring.

Speaking at the time of the release, Dinosaurland partner Cindy Langham said: "The effect has been amazing.

"We have had a steady increase in business at Dinosaurland since the beginning of the year but the recent acceleration has been incredible.

"This is good for us and great for the town as a whole.

"The resort must get a spin-off from any success we have."

Those at Dinosaurland received regular inquiries from television, radio, as well as the national newspapers, with more and more people interested in the creatures that walked the earth millions of years ago.

The effect of the film was not just felt by tourist businesses, and captured the imagination of those living in the town.

The Lyme premier of the film took place at the 400-seater Regent Cinema, who had to turn people away.

Manager of the cinema at the time, Alec Orme, said: "We are running the film for a month.

"It is early days yet but the film must have a chance of beating 'Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves' as the most successful film ever shown on a Lyme screen."

The film ended up winning three Oscars, as well as winning another 36 awards and being nominated for 25 more.

According to film site IMBD, the film made a worldwide gross profit of $1,029,153,882.

The film has since been re-released, and led to four sequels, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001), Jurassic World (2015) and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018).