Five festive faux pas to avoid creating a 'winter blunderland'

Think snow covered grottos, Rudolph and his fellow reindeer and an appearance by the main man Father Christmas.

But the perils of re-creating that festive feel-good factor have back-fired over the years.

Check out these top five tips to avoiding a Christmas catastrophe.

1. Ensure Santa's elves get the attraction set up on time

Christmas experiences generally need snow and lots of it. Don't let it have muddy fields like this 'Lapland' in Essington.

2. Avoid that Christmas celebrity endorsement

Two years ago, it was a less than magical experience for a festive attraction designed with the help of television star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

The celebrity interior designer helped launch the Magical Journey, based in Sutton Coldfield.

And he declared the attraction would be a 'never-forgotten seasonal experience'.

But it promptly shut by mid-December following a blaze of complaints from visitors.

Llewelyn-Bowen had not given any financial support to the project and had no involvement in the management.

3. Ensure Father Christmas delivers

Some festive flops have seen parents shelling out up to £100 for tickets to shows only to have a 'cheap plastic toy' handed out by Santa.

Christmas is all about the giving and receiving - but make sure it is at least value for money.

4. Make sure Santa's Little Helpers don't get caught out

The Magical Journey experience was beset with claims people spotted elves having to push a train uphill and others just sat around smoking.

5. Don't promise a festive fantasy, only to deliver a festive flop

Promoters of Lapland West Midlands in Essington, near Wolverhampton, promised real snow every hour, reindeers and huskies, stilt-walkers, an ice rink, bungee trampolining, a climbing wall, a Formula 1-style racetrack and an "authentic" Father Christmas.

But people were shocked to find a dozen marquees, some Christmas trees and a handful of portable toilets ahead of opening.

And the event was dramatically scrapped hours before it opened, blaming 'adverse publicity' amid claims the failed venture had cost £40,000.

This year, Sandwell Valley is gearing up to host its own Christmas extravaganza hoping to herald the Yuletide joy.

Readers took to Facebook to welcome the new event saying they hoped it would be a success.

Mary Hastilow said: "Good luck and hopefully a great success"

Nicola Belgium-Bowen said: "Looks good for the kids."

Rebecca Garratt added: "Me and the kids will have to go."