A WOMAN told today of her 'sheer disappointment' at visiting a Lapland-style theme park which she thought would be a magical Christmas experience.

Angela Barnes was left distraught having bought tickets to go to the Lapland New Forest UK attraction at Matchams.

Mrs Barnes said she had believed the descriptions on the park’s website which offered a winter wonderland with snow-covered log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs, polar bears and other animals, as well as a bustling Christmas market.

However, as jurors at Bristol Crown Court have been told, instead of the promised magical festive treat, visitors experienced fairy lights hung from trees, tethered dogs, a plastic polar bear and a broken ice rink.

Mrs Barnes told the court that after seeing an advert and viewing the park’s website she bought tickets for herself and her husband - costing a total of £60 - for the weekend it opened in November 2008.

“The ‘magical tunnel of light’ attracted me as did the ‘bustling Christmas market’.”

Mrs Barnes, from Southsea, Hampshire, explained to jurors that her excitement was quickly spoilt as she saw the highly anticipated ‘tunnel of light’.

“I thought it was an introduction to what was going to get better. I didn’t realise I was properly inside the attraction,” she said.

Less than a week later the attraction closed as the company behind it went into liquidation, with the defendants – Victor and Henry Mears – blaming the media and sabotage from “New Forest villains” for the decision.

Victor Mears, 67, of Selsfield Drive, and Henry Mears, 60, of Coombe Road, Brighton, deny five charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading action and three charges of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission.

The trial continues.