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| Lapland theme park is closed down | Lapland theme park is closed down |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Lapland-style theme park criticised by visitors as "hell" and a "scam" has closed down permanently. | A Lapland-style theme park criticised by visitors as "hell" and a "scam" has closed down permanently. |
| Lapland New Forest opened on Friday on the Hampshire-Dorset border but was criticised by hundreds of visitors. | Lapland New Forest opened on Friday on the Hampshire-Dorset border but was criticised by hundreds of visitors. |
| The firm running the park said it had closed the attraction because of "intentional organised crowd manipulation and event sabotage". | The firm running the park said it had closed the attraction because of "intentional organised crowd manipulation and event sabotage". |
| Trading standards earlier said it was investigating complaints from visitors but did not have the power to shut it. | Trading standards earlier said it was investigating complaints from visitors but did not have the power to shut it. |
| A big sign put up outside the park on Thursday morning said: "Lapland New Forest closed - for more information contact the website". | A big sign put up outside the park on Thursday morning said: "Lapland New Forest closed - for more information contact the website". |
| In the afternoon, a statement from Victor Mears, director of Lapland New Forest, was published on the website. | In the afternoon, a statement from Victor Mears, director of Lapland New Forest, was published on the website. |
| It read: "With my deepest regret and sincerest apology I am left with no option but to announce that I am forced to close the children's entertainment theme park Lapland New Forest for 2008. | It read: "With my deepest regret and sincerest apology I am left with no option but to announce that I am forced to close the children's entertainment theme park Lapland New Forest for 2008. |
| Mr Mears said it was due to: "Intentional organised crowd manipulation and event sabotage during and since our first trading weekend. | Mr Mears said it was due to: "Intentional organised crowd manipulation and event sabotage during and since our first trading weekend. |
| The BBC searches for Lapland park owners | |
| He also blamed "unscrupulous and inaccurate negative bias media broadcasts of both local and national press and television companies that contributed significantly to fuelling widespread public concern, frenzy and distraction". | He also blamed "unscrupulous and inaccurate negative bias media broadcasts of both local and national press and television companies that contributed significantly to fuelling widespread public concern, frenzy and distraction". |
| He also said all the company's funds had been "illegally" withdrawn "without notice from the Lapland New Forest Ltd bank account leaving us completely unable to trade". | He also said all the company's funds had been "illegally" withdrawn "without notice from the Lapland New Forest Ltd bank account leaving us completely unable to trade". |
| Mr Mears added: "For all people wishing to claim financial reimbursement I can only advise that you return to our website for further information on this important matter." | Mr Mears added: "For all people wishing to claim financial reimbursement I can only advise that you return to our website for further information on this important matter." |
| Dorset Police said officers were called to the site in the morning after allegations contractors had not been paid. | Dorset Police said officers were called to the site in the morning after allegations contractors had not been paid. |
| One contractor had feared a breach of the peace but no arrests were made, they said. | One contractor had feared a breach of the peace but no arrests were made, they said. |
| One of the organisers, Henry Mears, told the BBC on Monday that he blamed "professional troublemakers" for bad reports about the site. He has since been unavailable for comment. | One of the organisers, Henry Mears, told the BBC on Monday that he blamed "professional troublemakers" for bad reports about the site. He has since been unavailable for comment. |
| More than 2,000 people who paid £25-£30 for tickets to the park near Ringwood have officially complained about it. | More than 2,000 people who paid £25-£30 for tickets to the park near Ringwood have officially complained about it. |
| Hundreds of people have been calling for the closure of the attraction and demanding refunds, complaining it does not resemble marketing images on its website. | Hundreds of people have been calling for the closure of the attraction and demanding refunds, complaining it does not resemble marketing images on its website. |
| The firm running the theme park took the decision to close it Lapland park guard quits in shame | |
| The website became unavailable on Monday afternoon, but was later republished with different pictures. | The website became unavailable on Monday afternoon, but was later republished with different pictures. |
| The BBC has tried to track down the organisers of the park since speaking to Henry Mears on Monday, but without success. | The BBC has tried to track down the organisers of the park since speaking to Henry Mears on Monday, but without success. |
| But a friend of Victor Mears, the registered director of the attraction, said the director was "genuinely concerned and upset" about events. | But a friend of Victor Mears, the registered director of the attraction, said the director was "genuinely concerned and upset" about events. |
| David Bishop told the BBC: "They're going to lose a hell of a lot of money and possibly one of them's going to lose a house over this. | David Bishop told the BBC: "They're going to lose a hell of a lot of money and possibly one of them's going to lose a house over this. |
| "They haven't tried to cheat, they haven't run, they haven't taken money out of the bank. | "They haven't tried to cheat, they haven't run, they haven't taken money out of the bank. |
| "He was in floods of tears the other day when I was talking to him because he felt that he had done something wrong to kids." | "He was in floods of tears the other day when I was talking to him because he felt that he had done something wrong to kids." |
| Santa attacked | |
| On Wednesday, a former security guard at the site, Adrian Wood, told the BBC that people had been "ripped off" and he had been "ashamed to work there". | On Wednesday, a former security guard at the site, Adrian Wood, told the BBC that people had been "ripped off" and he had been "ashamed to work there". |
| He resigned after seeing a family take their mother out of a cancer hospice for what could be her last Christmas, he said. | He resigned after seeing a family take their mother out of a cancer hospice for what could be her last Christmas, he said. |
| He also said staff were subjected to violent outbursts by irate customers, including Santa being attacked and one of the elves being "smacked in the face and pushed into a pram". | He also said staff were subjected to violent outbursts by irate customers, including Santa being attacked and one of the elves being "smacked in the face and pushed into a pram". |
| He too had been punched in the forehead, he said. | He too had been punched in the forehead, he said. |
| The theme park's website had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. | The theme park's website had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. |
| It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. | It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. |
| People said the original website was misleading | People said the original website was misleading |
| Hundreds of people have complained to the BBC since the park opened, saying the animals looked unhappy and huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. | Hundreds of people have complained to the BBC since the park opened, saying the animals looked unhappy and huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. |
| The RSPCA later visited the site and said the animals were fine. | The RSPCA later visited the site and said the animals were fine. |
| Other facilities, including a broken ice rink, were poor, visitors said, describing the site as a "scam", a "joke", "disorganised chaos" and "hell". | Other facilities, including a broken ice rink, were poor, visitors said, describing the site as a "scam", a "joke", "disorganised chaos" and "hell". |
| Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more, and £10 for children under two years old. | Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more, and £10 for children under two years old. |
| Some complained they then had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. | Some complained they then had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. |
| East Dorset District Council also revealed it had to stop the sale of alcohol on site because an application for a licence had been granted but was not yet in force. | East Dorset District Council also revealed it had to stop the sale of alcohol on site because an application for a licence had been granted but was not yet in force. |
| Unsatisfied customers have been advised by Consumer Direct to consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter is unsuccessful. | Unsatisfied customers have been advised by Consumer Direct to consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter is unsuccessful. |