THE disastrous Lapland New Forest Limited is going into liquidation, leaving ticket holders with little chance of getting their money back.

Accountants Grant Thornton have confirmed that director Victor Mears has instructed them to take action and have also revealed that 42,000 advance ticket orders netted more than £1 million for those behind the ill-fated Christmas attraction.

A creditor’s meeting has been arranged for next month and moves are now under way to safeguard assets and to assess the number of claims against the short-lived company.

Lapland New Forest attracted publicity the world over after its advertised “Winter Wonderland” turned out to be a muddy field with a few unhappy elves, numerous “Santas” on cigarette breaks, a broken ice rink and expensive fairground rides.

Disappointed visitors, who had paid £30 per head, queued for hours in the cold to meet Father Christmas and the park even ran out of turkey baguettes, hot chocolate and gingerbread for the gingerbread house.

The company was founded on August 12 last year to run the Christmas theme park on a 40-acre site at Matchams, near Ringwood. Advance orders for tickets were taken from September 22 and the park officially opened on November 29, with the intention of running until December 24. It closed on December 5 after a barrage of complaints.

Kevin Helland, of Grant Thornton, told the Daily Echo: “We are currently working with the director of Lapland New Forest Limited to safeguard the assets. “In the company’s short trading period ticket sales generated in excess of £1 million of income.

“The liquidator will need to fully review the company’s trading activities. “I believe that there will be a number of claims which will need to be pursued by the liquidator.”

He said a creditor’s meeting will be held at the Novotel in Southampton on February 16 and thousands of people are expected to turn up to try to get their money back.

All potential creditors have been urged to make their claims in writing to Grant Thornton UK, LLP, 1, Dorset Street, Southampton, SO15 2DP.

It is widely anticipated that the vast majority will not get their money back because companies which go into liquidation do not usually have many assets.