Consumer experts said the vast numbers of unhappy customers would have to either convince their credit card companies to refund the money or try to get the money back from the organisers of the event near Ringwood, Dorset.

But Henry Mears, the publicist for the month-long Lapland village project, offered little hope of refunds – he blamed customers and the weather, despite trading standards launching an investigation after receiving an 'unprecedented' 50 complaints within just a few hours yesterday morning.

The News was also inundated with angry callers wanting their money back and the RSPCA is involved after complaints were made about poor conditions for the animals.

In the face of the deluge of complaints against Lapland New Forest, the company behind the event, he said he believed it was a 'good value experience for £25 per ticket', but could not say whether anyone would get a refund because the owner of the firm was ill.

Angry families paid up to £30 per ticket for what was billed as a breathtaking winter wonderland, and had to queue for up to three hours in mud-covered, freezing, rainswept fields to see Father Christmas.

>>>Judge for yourself from these pictures. Click here.

Once there they had to pay another £10 for a photo with him and queue up again for an unwrapped present. The much-vaunted 'tunnel of light' was actually a line of trees with some fairy lights, the 'snow-covered log cabins' were sheds, the promised husky dog and reindeer rides were cancelled and the ice rink was broken.

Mark Rose's two young children did not even get to see the main attraction.

Mr Rose, 46, of Beresford Close, Waterlooville, said: 'We spent £100 to stand in a queue and not even see Father Christmas. We were told that unless we paid £10 for a photograph all the kids could do was stand at the window and wave to him. They were absolutely heartbroken and we were fuming.'

Zoe King, 33, of Furzedown Crescent, Havant, said: 'Instead of snow it was a muddy field. The nativity scene was just a bit of painted wood so far away you could hardly see, and the poor huskies were clearly distressed. We tried our best to make it as nice as we could for the children but we were furious and so was everyone else. It was totally shambolic.'

But Mr Mears said: 'There was a group of people who came in both days and were rude, aggressive and insulting to our staff. One man actually hit one of the elves round the face, and his wife shoved a pushchair into her.

'It was disgraceful the way they acted and it ruined the atmosphere for everyone. Six of the staff walked out because of that and the rain didn't help, it was awful.'

GETTING YOUR MONEY BACK

If you have already been to the Lapland theme park, trading standards and Consumer Direct have advised that in the first instance refund claims should be sent by recorded delivery to the company at Lapland New Forest Ltd, Unit 1 Wildpark House, Home Farm Road, Brighton, BN1 9HT.

At www.consumerdirect.gov.uk you will find a highlighted green box, Consumer Issues, in which there is a link to templates for letters to get you started, and the one to use is for the Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982.

If you get no response from Lapland New Forest you may have to take it to the small claims court, but those who paid more than £100 on a credit card may be able to claim through their credit card company using the template for the Consumer Credit Act 1974 – Section 75. To have a chance of success you will have to show you tried to claim direct from Lapland New Forest first.

It will be more difficult for those who have bought tickets for later in the month but do not want to use them now.

You must also write to the company explaining you want a refund because the reports you have received of the event so far differ to what you thought you were paying for.

READERS' VIEWS

Jenny Stewart, 54, from Brookside Close, Denmead, took 11 members of her family to the event. 'I paid £275 and we got absolutely nothing for it but muddy fields with barbed wire round them. It was absolutely awful.'

Sarah Bottrell, of Spithead Avenue, Gosport, took her four year-old daughter, Georgina. 'We tried our very best to make it special for our daughter but there was nothing magical about it at all. Everyone there was very, very upset.'

Michelle Huggins and her family, from Zeus Lane, Crookhorn, Waterlooville, paid out £190 to visit the attraction. 'The children were so disappointed. Their little hands were like ice cubes after queuing in the freezing rain for three hours just to get a glimpse of Father Christmas. It was total rubbish.'

Gill Whiting from Lower Drayton Lane, Drayton, went with her grandchildren. 'It was so terrible. We were bitterly disappointed. I would rather have given my money to someone on the street than wasted our time on that.'

Mum-of-one Soraya Barnard, 37, from Shore Haven, Paulsgrove, was fuming after spending £150 on tickets. 'It was a complete shambles. My daughter said she'd rather have waited in the doctors. We didn't even get to see Father Christmas.'

Derek Bajnath, a 43-year-old IT worker from Cosham. 'It was a nightmare from start to finish and my two boys did not enjoy a minute of it.'

Amanda Kennard, a 39-year-old shop assistant from Hill Head, Stubbington, went with her children. 'It was disgusting. It was like a big car boot sale without the cars.'

Maureen Tickner, of Woodbury Grove, Lovedean, paid £300 for nine tickets. 'It was terrible. Before we booked it we looked online and it was magical. When we went there it was absolutely nothing like the website. It is unfair that somebody should be able to do that.'