Christmas attraction bosses have been slammed as worse than Scrooge for selling tickets at £65 per person - even for children.

Father Christmas World, in Tunbridge Wells, has begun selling tickets despite not having yet received planning permission.

But customers were shocked to find standard entry would cost £65 per person, including children over one.

The £2.5million attraction, on Salomons Estate, is billed as one of the UK's biggest seasonal attractions.

But, after revealing its prices when tickets went on sale last Wednesday, some potential customers have said they will not be visiting.

"It is a rip off and yet another sad example of companies trying to make a profit at Christmas time despite the expensive to families..." - mum Laura Ansell

Dozens of people took to the venue's Facebook page to vent their frustration.

Laura Ansell, from Tunbridge Wells, was hoping to take her whole family to the attraction, but said it would now cost her too much.

The 29-year-old said: "Charging £65 for a child is ridiculous - they're worse than Scrooge.

"It would cost me £455 to take my family to Father Christmas World including my husband our two children and three grandparents.

"Even if we only went as a family of four, it'd be £260 and as it's getting close to Christmas it's impossible to get time off work to make use of the 'saver' tickets."

Markerstudy Leisure, the company working in association with the attraction, has defended the prices.

A spokesman said: "Father Christmas World is a premium experience that combines the talents of artists, actors, storytellers and special effects wizards.

"Our prices reflect the cost of providing a genuinely magical experience for ticket holders and their families."

But Mrs Ansell, of Western Road, added: "I'd expect to pay that money for a day at a theme park, or a Christmas panto with major celebrities in central London.

"It is a rip off and yet another sad example of companies trying to make a profit at Christmas time despite the expensive to families."

Potential visitors also have concerns over the venue still not having planning approval from the council.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said the planning application would be considered by the planning committee at the end of this month.

A spokesman said: "The current expectation is that this planning application will be determined by the planning committee in late September now that the additional documentation has been received and is out for consultation."

The council said it is a commercial decision for the company to make about the sale of tickets so it could not comment.

Nick Moore, commercial director of Markerstudy Leisure, said: "In the unlikely event that our attraction does not go ahead as envisaged, then naturally full refunds will be made by Father Christmas World Ltd."

Markerstudy Leisure also announced it is launching a Santa Express road train that will link the two ends of the town centre - at a cost of £100,000.

A spokesman said: "This proved a huge success last year and we transported over 10,000 people completely free of charge. Working with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, collections raised £1,000 for the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre in Tunbridge Wells."

If planning approval is received, the venue will open to the public daily between 10am and 6pm from Saturday, November 15 to Wednesday, December 31.