A ferris wheel that had been due to give visitors views over London was closed thanks to high winds, according to visitors.

And one mum said her kids had been left crying after Santa failed to appear in his grotto because he was stuck in heavy snow after trying to travel down from Nottingham.

Bizarrely others say they were told an ice rink was shut because it was too SLIPPY.

The Crystal Palace WinterFest, being held at historic Crystal Palace Park in South East London, eventually received so many complaints, bosses decided to shut it permanently after just one weekend. 

It was hailed as south London’s alternative to the pricey Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

But parents who attended after it opened on December 8 blasted it as “really poor.”

Pictures show the site covered in mud, with a few paltry stalls, naff plastic reindeer and fairground rides that cost up to £3 each.

An ice skating rink that cost £12 for adults and £8.50 for kids at peak times was bizarrely shut to to SNOW - with parents who had booked saying they weren’t told until they turned up.

The real scenes were a far cry from glossy shots on the site’s website, which showed couples enjoying hot drinks and Father Christmas handing a child a wrapped present in ‘Toyland’. 

Pictures of the site posted on Facebook show rides covered in snow and the whole site turned into a mud bath.

Tom Phillips said: “Winterfest - closed due to snow. 

“What’s next? The beach - closed due to sand?”

Adrian Miah added: “Niece and nephew pre-booked for ice skating on Saturday, when arrived was told it’s cancelled, will get a refund, and didn’t offer to rebook.”

Sarah Louise Hill said her visit had been “a joke”. 

She said: “For whoever was thinking of going to winterfest at Crystal Palace Park! Do not go!

“Honestly it was a joke, we walked miles and miles across the park in the snow to find that the ice rink was melted and there was no father xmas!

“The kids were so upset, freezing and crying. 

“And I don’t think I stand much chance of getting my money back for ice skating as there is no number to call or anything!

“And when you are there they just tell you to go on Crystal Palace website which there isn’t one!

“There were like two rides and two stalls was an absolute joke!!!” 

Sarah Fok-seang also said her visit had been disastrous and was told that despite it being a winter festival, many parts were shut due to bad weather.

She said: “Santa’s Grotto: Not there today as he lives in Nottingham and couldn’t get down due to the snow on the motorway, they haven’t booked another Santa for the rest of the time in case this happens again.

“Ice skating: closed today due to the weather, not their fault it’s for health and safety reasons it’s very slippery, any tickets booked will be refunded. No seating for spectators outside.

“Giant observation wheel: As you may know couldn’t be put up due to high winds previously but will be delivered Monday ready for Wednesday.

“Lots of fun fair rides for the kids, yes it’s pricey between £1-3 a ride but that’s probably what you would pay anywhere at Christmas.”

WinterFest’s website hailed it as a great Christmas destination with lots of things to see and do.  

“It was free to enter, but parents had to pay to go on rides, ice skate or visit Santa.

Foodies were promised a “street food area” with crepes, churros, doughnuts, hog roasts and luxury hot chocolates as well as a festive bar.

But in fact visitors found just a handful of stalls selling theme park food like hotdogs and candy floss.

Other parents said the entire site had been turned into a mud bath because the floor was made of material that looked like bin bags.

Michael Curran said: “It’s really poor, popped up there Sunday afternoon, minimum investment!

“Difficult to walk around the place without getting covered in mud! God knows how you would cope with young children or with a buggy!! Not family friendly - shame!” 

RJ Valentine added: “The place is a joke.

“A half-hearted funfair (the worst kind because God knows whether they’ve tightened the bolts) and four stalls selling Christmas market stuff. Utter rubbish.

“Better on the South Bank. Better in Birmingham. 

“Better at my bloody school and I’m 40. 

“It was bobbins.”

Anita Glave added: “Er...Crystal Palace Winterfest...don’t bother!!” 

Christina McCormick said: “Took the boys to Winterfest at Crystal Palace today, what a huge disappointment, was just a funfair and a bad one at that, not Christmassy at all and nothing there.”

Lee Gowing said on Twitter: “Crystal Palace #Winterfest sorry but it was a bit of a let down no Santa’s grotto and the ice rink wasn’t up and running no good Christmas stalls...

“0 out of 10 glad we didn’t have to pay to get in #dontwasteyourtime”

A message went up on WinterFest’s website last night, saying it had shut permanently, despite the fact it should have remained open until January 2 

When contacted for a comment about the issues, a spokesman simply said: “WinterFest has now been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions and the effects it has had on the event.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and all refunds for bookings will be made within seven days.”

Crystal Palace Park - which housed the Crystal Palace between 1854 and its destruction by fire in 1936 - is run by Bromley Council.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that the organisers have decided not to pursue this event and idverde, our parks and green spaces management contractor, are in contact with them to discuss this matter further.”