A temporary attraction in Dorset has caused a public uproar after hundreds of visitors have complained that the site failed to match promises made on its website.

Called Lapland New Forest, the attraction's website promised visitors a "place where dreams come true", with a "bustling christmas market, seasonal foods, a magical light tunnel and live animals".

Since the park opened on 29 November, however, it has attracted nationwide media attention as hundreds of people have demanded refunds and some are taking legal action to try and get the attraction shut down under the trade description act as well as on animal welfare grounds.

A total of more than 2,000 complaints have been lodged with local councils and the RSPCA.

According to the Bournemouth Eco, up to 50,000 people are believed to have pre-booked tickets to the park, which charges £30 per person for entry plus extra for the activities it organises inside the gates. According to visitors, most of these activities were either unavailable or they had a three to four hour queue to them.

The attraction consists of fair ground rides most associated with traveling fairs, a number of dogs chained to their kennels, burger stalls and fish and chips stands.

The website, which initially promised "native animals" at the park, was redesigned with new pictures on Tuesday 2 December, before crashing and becoming unavailable on Wednesday 3 December. Animals at the park include husky dogs, a reindeer and a replica of a polar bear.

The organiser of the temporary attraction, Henry Mears, has been unavailable for comment since Monday, after giving a brief interview to the BCC, in which he claimed that the complaints were the work of a "group of professional troublemakers."