New Forest Lapland attraction deserted as complaints rise to more than 2,000 » Local Government » 24dash.com

Trading standards have received more than 2,000 complaints about the Christmas attraction at the centre of 'rip off' allegations.

Lapland New Forest, which opened on November 28 at Matchams Leisure Park near Ringwood in Dorset has been the focus of several ill-tempered incidents and now stands virtually deserted as negative media attention has led to a public boycott.

Trading standards received the 2,000 complaints about the attraction, which charges between £25-£30 each to enter.

Many people have also contacted local papers and radio stations claiming chaotic queues of up to three hours in the wet and cold to see Santa.

There have been reports of violence flaring at the site with Santa being punched in the face and elves also pushed by angry visitors.

One man was spoken to by police today after an argument with security staff who claimed he had mentioned a knife.

A Dorset police spokeswoman said no weapon was found and the man was released.

One security guard also told BBC News he had quit the site in shame.

Adrian Wood said: "Santa got attacked, one of the elves got smacked in the face and pushed into a pram.

"I was punched in the forehead in the ticket office by an irate customer.

"I was ashamed to work there, really, really ashamed."

"They have been ripped off," he said.

Many visitors have complained that a "magical tunnel of light" turned out to be a line of trees with some lights on them and log cabins resembled B&Q sheds.

Reindeer and huskies were also penned up or tethered almost out of sight - prompting complaints to the RSPCA - and an ice rink was not working.

Henry Mears, the event's advertising manager, has been unavailable for comment since Monday but he blamed the complaints on a small number of troublemakers and said the ice rink had been fixed.

He denied that visitors had been ripped off but admitted family illness and unreliable staff had caused problems initially.

But families were not amused called the site a scam, a joke and looking more like a car boot sale than Lapland.

Trading standards officers from Dorset County Council said they had visited the site but do not have the power to shut it down.

Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more, and £10 for children under two years old.

East Dorset District Council has also stopped the sale of alcohol on site because an application for a licence had been granted but was not yet in force.