A fairytale fun day turned sour after it was branded a queuing nightmare by angry parents –but hundreds have defended the charity event.

Dozens complained too many tickets were sold for the day at Strode Park in Herne, leaving youngsters waiting for hours to see their favourite characters.

Some volunteer marshals were even abused as tempers frayed among the 3,000-strong crowd, but organisers have defended the sell-out event, which raised almost £6,000.

Gerald McCarthy, who helped run the day, said: “There are no other events within 100 miles like this. It was experimental and the feedback we have had has been about 98% positive.

“Thousands enjoyed it –whether you were young, old, disabled, there was lots there for everyone.

“It was just £4 for people to get in, with money being raised for Strode Park Foundation. It meant a family of four could have a day out for £16, which I think people will take as pretty good value.

“The volunteers, who were mostly family or friends of mine, didn’t deserve to be spoken to the way they were.

“If there is another – and at the moment I don’t feel like doing one – please expect more queues, occasionally grumpy kids; welcome to the world of days out in the summer holidays with kids.”

Visitors to the park were met by a host of fairytale characters in costume, including Cinderella, Snow White, Shrek and Jack Sparrow.

But parents complained that queues to be pictured with the stars were too long and that there was not enough to keep their children entertained.

Among them was Katie Accleton, who said: “Sadly, very disappointed with this event. Far too many people allowed in and no proper checking of tickets.

“No one marshalled the queues for characters, so queues ran into each other with no clear starts or ends.

“This could have been a fantastic event with a little more thought and organisation put into it.”

Mr McCarthy, who helped organise the hugely successful Sci-fi By the Seaquel festival last month, said: “With an event this size it was natural that there would be a few people who were not happy.

“For a day in the summer holidays, some people expected the queues, other people didn’t, but they are just a part of events like this.

“We will definitely learn lessons. Some people’s comments have been very helpful.

“We will look at having more things on, and possibly even have duplicate actors for the characters.

“But our actors were volunteers coming from all over England to don the costumes and interact with the kids.

“I’m quite disappointed about the attitude of some parents. It was as if people dressed all day in a Cinderella costume weren’t entitled to a lunch break, and that was a bit disheartening.

“Really, there are queues everywhere at this time of year, and it can be horrendous at any attraction.”

Strode Park Foundation fundraiser Michelle Moxley says the money raised will go towards a new hydrotherapy pool to help disabled children.

She added: “We were aware of the queues, but organisers did their best to keep people entertained.

“We haven’t received that many negative comments, most feedback has been positive. We will have a post event meeting to discuss what we think went well and what we could do to improve.

“We want to work with the local community to provide enjoyable entertainment as well as boost funds for the charity.”