Organisers of a festive event that turned away dozens of families after they were trapped in four-hour-long queues are vowing to make "significant changes".

Visitors to the Winter Wonderland at Detling Showground, Maidstone, yesterday were stuck in gridlocked traffic along the A249 as they attempted to get onto the site.

Many are demanding refunds following the frustrating experience, as several people were unable to get in before it closed.

But now Phoenix Fireworks, the firm that organised the £50-per-car event, has issued an apology - adding that it will try to prevent the problems from reoccurring over the next three days.

It has since confirmed that it will go ahead with tonight's event, despite yesterday's chaos.

A recorded message on its phone line says: "We are acutely aware of the traffic management problems we experienced and are deeply sorry.

"We would like to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer and magic and clearly this did not happen. We are quite dismayed.

"We have learned a lot and we will be making significant changes to the event from today onwards."

The event is also due to take place tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.

It had been billed as a Covid-safe "whimsical Christmas tour" with guests driving along a winter-themed trail.

Children could wave at Santa from their cars, post their letters to the North Pole and watch a fireworks display from a designated parking space.

They were also promised a food village and other "enchanting surprises".

Instead, furious visitors spent their evenings in tailbacks that stretched along the A249 to Eclipse Park, near junction 7 of the M20.

Outraged Beccy Hamblett wrote on Facebook: "Avoid at all costs. We arrived at Detling Hill at 3.45pm expecting a queue.

"We finally reached the entrance at 7.30pm and located a marshal who led us right to the exit as there was no point in staying for the last 30 minutes.

"We didn't get to see anything except darkness and car headlights. I had a small baby crying non-stop and let down my ten-year-old too."

Debbie Clay added: "I have been shielding since March. This was my first trip out other than to hospital and I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to it.

"We live 10 minutes away but sat in a queue for two-and-a-half hours.

"When we got to the entrance, cars were stuck in mud. It would have taken more than an hour to park so we were advised to go home.

"I had high hopes to go out of 2020 with some spirit of good and you have squashed it. I want a refund - I am fuming."

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