IT was meant to be a magical winter wonderland – snowy scenes, real log cabins, a nativity scene and husky dogs.

But in reality Lapland New Forest was a huge disappointment to thousands of people.

Customers claimed log cabins were a few green painted sheds, the nativity scene was a billboard in a muddy field and the tunnel of light was a “joke”.

They also reported long queues to meet Father Christmas and fighting elves.

Yesterday angry customers came face to face with the boss of the “rip-off” winter wonderland at a creditors’ meeting.

Around 42,000 advance ticket orders netted Lapland New Forest Ltd director Victor Mears just over £1.2 million. £343,011 was refunded to credit cards but the rest of the customers are unlikely to see their money.

It was also revealed that Mr Mears spent £900,000 on setting up the theme park for rent, fake snow, lighting systems, hire of an ice rink that broke, toys, wrapping paper and marketing.

Mr Mears blamed adverse publicity for the park’s failure.

He said: “I did not intentionally deceive anyone. I did have the idea, it’s brilliant, it’s fantastic. I had the chutzpah to go and do it.

“It was a success by the mere virtue of the fact people spent over a million on it.”

Mr Mears, who claims he cannot read or write, said he was suffering from a terminal illness and showed his colostomy bag to the meeting.

“I have the greatest sympathy with the public here. I feel I have been treated shabbily. I don’t believe I am the architect of that.”

The Lapland-style theme park at Matchams opened on November 29 and tickets were priced between £25 and £30 each.

But within days customers were demanding their money back and 5,000 people complained to Dorset Trading Standards. The park closed before Christmas.

Around 20 members of the public and business representatives attended the creditors’ meeting.

Peter Bacon from Southampton spent £310 on 15 tickets for his family. He said: “I have come to ask for my money back and tell him how disgusted I was.

“I got my family together for this occasion and I was so embarrassed to think I had brought everyone to see that rubbish.”

And Anita Sanders, 36, from Lyndhurst said she had bought 10 tickets to celebrate her son Alfie’s 5th birthday and everyone was left bitterly disappointed.

An HM Revenue and Customs official told Mr Mears that he was in breach of duty for his record-keeping because he paid large amounts of cash for goods and services without receiving any receipts for payment.

Kevin Hellard and Trevor O’Sullivan of Grant Thornton were appointed joint liquidators at the meeting, which heard the company’s assets may be as little as £20,000.

Mr Hellard said: “I am sure that ticket holders are anxious to learn how much they are likely to be paid back from the company.”

Mr O’Sullivan said their investigations into the finances of the company would take “months rather than weeks”.