Delight as Lapland West Midlands scrapped

Villagers living close to the site of an illegal Christmas festival near Wolverhampton, claimed victory today after organisers pulled the plug hours before the first families arrived.

Serious concerns had been raised by council chiefs about whether promoters Lapland West Midlands could deliver the promises made on its website, which boasted of a winter wonderland in Essington complete with attractions such as real snow every hour, reindeers, huskies, a Formula 1-style racetrack and an "authentic" Father Christmas. nextpage

Councillor David Clifft, chairman of the parish council, said he was glad it was cancelled before the first visitors arrived. "This is absolutely brilliant news but it should have never have got this far," he said. Co-organiser Steven Jennings talks to Dan Wainwright in this photo.nextpage

Co-organiser Steven Jennings, pictured this morning. Parish council vice-chair Mavis North said: "Children would have gone there with certain expectations. They would have been massively disappointed."nextpage

Richard Simkin, owner of Essington Fruit Farm, a few hundred yards away from the site in Bognop Road, visited the site today and said: "I was very concerned to make sure that people knew that we are still open."nextpage

Wolverhampton councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, who works in the leisure industry, said: "It nowhere near resembled a mini-Lapland. I wouldn't pay 25p to get in, let alone £25."nextpage

Sam Rice of Essington had been due to take four-year-old son Danny to the event today. She said: "I just think it is not fair on the kids." Security workers arrived at the site just before 10am. Forhad Ahmed, of London-based High Tech Security, said: "We had two first aid trained security staff, four stewards and myself." nextpage

The controversy over Lapland West Midlands comes after a similar, unrelated event in Dorset was scrapped this week. nextpageLapland West Midlands bosses say they have nothing to do with the Dorset venture.