A Lapland attraction which promised an "authentic taste of Christmas" has failed to open today after a council warned families to "think carefully" before buying tickets.

Lapland West Midlands, near Wolverhampton, was due to open its doors this morning and offered visitors, paying £25 a ticket, reindeer and husky dogs, ice skating and “real snow every hour”.

Yesterday Staffordshire County Council posted a statement on its website warning people the attraction may not deliver what was advertised, did not have permission to open or a permit for the animals and the venue was unsuitable for large amounts of traffic.

This morning Trading Standards officers were at the site ready to shut it down, if the opening had gone ahead as planned. Police also intended as a precaution.

Councillor Carol Dean, from Staffordshire County Council, said: “It looks like a field with some tents in it at the moment. It doesn’t look much like a winter wonderland.

“There aren’t any animals up at the site. There’s not a lot up there in the way of an event. There are just some pitched tents up there and we have been advised that it’s been closed.

“It would have taken a lot to get it to the stage we have seen on the website.

“We have come along to see what they have got and if it had opened we would have been able to shut it down because they didn’t have the appropriate permission."

Organisers today retaliated by blaming "bad publicity" for cancelling the event.

A statement on Lapland West Midlands website said: "Due to bad publicity and lack of ticket sales, we regret that Lapland West Midlands will not be opening as planned on 6th December 2008 and the event has been cancelled.

"All tickets purchased will be refunded in full."

Previously the website had stated it had no connection with the failed Lapland New Forest, which shut down earlier this week after more than 2,000 complaints.

There were reports of violence at the site at Matchams Leisure Park, near Ringwood, on the Dorset-Hampshire border, with Father Christmas being punched in the face and elves pushed by angry visitors.

Organiser Steven Jennings said his company had spent £40,000 on the West Midlands event and employed 25 contracted staff for what he planned to be a "lovely weekend".

A refund would be offered to all customers who had booked tickets before the event was cancelled, he said.

“We are very, very sorry because it would have been a lovely weekend this weekend but it’s down to the bad publicity we have had and the council not granting us a licence.

“We had planning permission but we did not have an events licence and although they were not going to prosecute us we think it’s only fair to abide by the law,” said Mr Jennings.

The website, which has now closed down, had promised visitors ice skating cartoon stars, baby huskies and reindeer, stating: “The enormity and detail of our place will truly wow you."

Mr Jennings added: "We did have reindeer coming here today. Everything was organised but as I said it’s down to the bad publicity and we’re very sorry to everyone who was going to come here.”

Organisers of Lapland West Midlands have asked customers to contact them on sales@laplandwestmidlands.co.uk for a refund, while the council has suggested calling Consumer Direct.

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