Blackpool Pleasure Beach is blaming gloomy weather and the recession for a £400,000 drop in operating profits last year.

Annual results for Blackpool Pleasure Beach Holdings, which include the theme park, hotel and South Shore Mutual Insurance Company show the group made a loss of £524,000 in 2012, compared to a profit of £329,000 in 2011.

Although sales did increase by 7 per cent to £31.6m, this was still below predictions.

The £9m Nickelodeon Land in 2011 and the £5.25m Wallace and Gromit ride set to open this summer, which is expected to boost visits.

Managing director, Amanda Thompson, says: “The directors consider the extent to which the increase in visitor numbers and average spend per head was less than budget partially reflects the difficult economic climate.

“Since weather during the key 2011 season was materially worse than that of 2010, this is the main reason for the shortfall in sales compared to budget. Cost increases, which included expenditure to further improve experience for our guests were in line with budget and, as a result operating profit was down by £400,000 on last year’s results.”