A water park which only opened last month has temporarily closed after some visitors reported falling ill.

Whitemills Wake Water and Aqua Park in Sandwich posted on its Facebook page that it was closed today for water testing.

The park has been contacting customers to cancel bookings and offer alternative dates.

In an email to a customer, the team wrote: "As you may well be aware, we have had to shut the lake due to reports of sickness. We are being very proactive and working to find out what the problem is or where it has come from.

"We are working closely with Dover District Council and the public protection team by testing to eliminate and rectify this problem.

"We will be closed until the results come through, and therefore we are issuing you with a voucher which has no expiry date for you to use at another date.

"We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience but thank you for your support."

Steph Thompson, whose son's birthday party was among the bookings cancelled, said: "We're just very disappointed.

"I have tried to call the park but the phone is off, which is very unhelpful.

"I feel really bad for my son, as his party was cancelled last year because he had Covid.

"But I'd rather they carried out the tests to see if there's anything wrong, rather than discover it for ourselves on the day."

The full message on Whitemills' social media page read: "We are closed today due to water testing.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause – we will be contacting everybody directly to issue you with a voucher to use at a later date."

The announcement comes after some people reported they had been ill after visiting.

Some say they have experienced temperatures and vomiting.

One person posted on Facebook: "All people in our party – three separate families – have been very sick within 48 hours of using the lake Tuesday of this week."

Another wrote: "Please be careful if you have used the new Sandwich Aqua park this week.

"Two families are poorly today, including us, that used the lake on Tuesday. Symptoms including temperature and vomiting. The council has been informed."

The Whitemills Water and Aqua Park in Sandwich opened on July 9.

The park has inflatable climbing frames and slides in the centre of a lake which visitors can explore as well as a range of activities such as open water swimming and stand-up paddle boarding with special sessions such as ladies' mornings and a kids' club.

The centre is on the corner of Ash Road and the A256 Sandwich Bypass, and also has a lakeside restaurant.

Eventually, wakeboarding will be available and a five-tower ski cable system on a purpose-built lake – which can be used by beginners and the experienced – will be installed.

Those who had booked to go to the water park are being contacted by the company and provided with a voucher to use another time.

Whitemills Wake has been contacted for further comment.