WEYMOUTH’S Sea Life Park is offering free admission to those left disappointed by the Lapland New Forest attraction.

A spokesman for the park said anyone producing a receipt for the Lapland park will be allowed free entry.

The announcement follows hundreds of complaints from bitterly disappointed families who bought tickets for Lapland New Forest.

Among visitors’ complaints about the attraction, based near Bournemouth, were the conditions in which animals were kept, three-hour waits to meet Santa and a non-functional ice rink – one of the attraction’s main selling points.

Sea Life Park boss Gareth Lay said: “As a father of two young children myself I know just how many of the disappointed Lapland visitors will be feeling.

“They have paid a lot of money for something that clearly hasn’t lived up to its billing, and I’m not surprised they are angry.

“There’s a danger when things like this happen that properly-run, good-value attractions get tarred with the same brush.

“That’s why we think it’s worth sacrificing a lot of potential revenue to let disgruntled Lapland visitors in free.”

Meanwhile, the Echo has learnt that Lapland New Forest could be set to rake in up to £2million in the run-up to Christmas.

Despite being hit by a record number of customer complaints, a walkout by staff and an investigation by trading standards, the attraction could still make bumper profits.

Some 50,000 people have already bought tickets and it’s thought a further 30,000 people could pass through the gates.

Families who pre-booked tickets before the controversy broke have little chance of getting their money back without first visiting the attraction and then going through the formal complaints process if dissatisfied.