AROUND 15 jobs are under threat at Lulworth Castle after estate owners decided to “scale down” activities at the historic site.

The castle, its park and walks will remain open to the public most of the year, but the animal farm, Stable Café and Courtyard Shop will close at the end of December, leading to the redundancies.

Specialist activities launched by the estate in a bid to boost visitor numbers, such as the jousting competition, the pirate festival and Halloween spooky fun event, have been axed.

However, the hugely successful Camp Bestival festival will not be affected.

General manager James Weld said: “The family are very disappointed to have to take the decision to reduce our activities at Lulworth castle and the direct effect that this will have on those people who are being made redundant at a difficult time.

“We have continued to support this part of our business for the last 12 years, but the economic prospects over the next few years make it impossible to justify further investment.”

Visitors to the castle and park grew to 80,000 in 2008.

Mr Weld said it had become increasingly clear the estate was not going to achieve the visitor numbers needed to continue the business in its current form.

He added: “Everyone involved in Lulworth Castle and Park has worked extremely hard.”

Weddings, charity and other private events will continue, but visitor numbers are expected to fall to 20,000 a year.

A spokesman said: “It will, however, continue to be a pleasant destination for visitors to experience the beautiful and peaceful landscape of a 17th-century castle, an historical chapel and the parkland.

l The Christmas Fun event will still run from December 19 until December 31 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)