A Lapland-themed event in the West Midlands was dramatically scrapped today, hours before it was due to open.

See also: Photos: Delight as Lapland West Midlands scrapped
Photos: Lapland West Midlands prepares for opening

The organisers said they blamed “adverse publicity” for their decision to abandon the two-week event on a field which is normally used for car boot sales in Essington, near Wolverhampton.

Their announcement came after Staffordshire County Council asked internet payment site PayPal to stop processing £25 entry tickets on the Lapland West Midlands website.

Despite yesterday disputing council warnings that the event was illegal, organisers today admitted that they did not have the necessary events licence. They said it would take several days to clear the site and say the venture has lost them £40,000.

Instead of the promised winter wonderland complete with attractions such as huskies, reindeers, real snow, a bungee trampoline and cartoon characters skating on ice, today a handful of marquees had been set up. At 9am a burger van and one fairground ride arrived.

Co-organiser Steven Jennings, from Derby, said: “The event has been cancelled due to all of the bad publicity and the council not granting a licence. Everybody will be given a full refund through the website, where a notice will be placed. We want to say we are very sorry to everybody who was looking forward to this weekend and next.

“We had the planning permission we thought meant we could have 14 more events on that site and carry on but we needed an events licence.” He said 25 contractors would be left out of pocket. Police officers went onto the site at 10am.

Richard Caddy, spokesman for Staffordshire County Council, said: “The most important thing is stopping people wasting their money and, if they have bought tickets, getting them their money back.”

By Daniel Wainwright