Dickens World had debts of nearly half a million pounds in the months before it closed.

The company, which suddenly closed its doors last week, owed 44 creditors more than £467,000 in May, according to documents filed at Companies House.

This included a tax bill of nearly £114,000, plus debts of £5,000 to Those Magic Beans Ltd, which produced its pantomime. It owed Medway Council business rates of more than £72,000.

Britannia Entertainments Ltd, which traded as Dickens World, went into voluntary liquidation in the spring, appointing Sidcup-based insolvency practitioner Griffins.

Its director Lenny Andreou, who lives in Greenhithe, had been credited with beginning a turnaround at the attraction, lowering admission prices and closing its costly Great Expectations boat ride in 2013.

Yet it has been beset by problems ever since he joined the firm, when it was making losses of £500,000 to £1 million a year.

A number of big ticket events designed to attract punters have been cancelled, including shows featuring comedian Jenny Eclair and singer Joe Longthorne.

The £62 million leisure centre, which recreates the novels of Charles Dickens, opened its doors in May 2007 after several delays.

In an interview with this paper in 2013, its former finance director Ed De Lucy said the original company running the attraction, Dickens World Ltd, went into administration after being hit with a £6 million tax bill.

He said the attraction’s original group of investors lost £32 million after receiving demand for payment of the outstanding debts in 2012.

Signs on the doors of Dickens World say the site has been repossessed but makes no mention of Britannia Entertainments Ltd.

It lists Chatham Maritime Events as the tenant of the attraction. Its director is Kevin Christie, the attraction’s long-term backer and founder.

The company was only formed last year and is late submitting its annual return, known as a confirmation statement.

Mr Andreou was unavailable for comment.