TWO brothers are due to stand trial today over the running of a failed Christmas theme park.

Victor and Henry Mears are facing nine counts of misleading customers at Lapland New Forest.

It was branded a “winter blunderland” after customers reported elves fighting and Santa was spotted on a cigarette break. There were also complaints about a lack of snow and log cabins that looked like garden sheds.

Thousands of people complained when the attraction, where entry cost between £25 and £30, opened briefly at Matchams Park, near Ringwood, in November 2008.

The case is being brought by Dorset Trading Standards who allege customers would have been misled by adverts, flyers and website information.

A creditor’s meeting was told that about 42,000 people had ordered tickets in advance.

When the company was wound up in February 2009 its debt was estimated at £1.2m, with some customers claiming up to £460 in refunds.

Victor, 67, of Selsfield Drive, Brighton, was the sole director of the firm. He and Henry, 59, of Coombe Road, Brighton, who was reported to be the park’s advertising manager, have both denied nine counts of engaging in a commercial practice which was misleading.

They are due to appear before Judge Mark Horton at Bristol Crown Court today for a trial which is scheduled to last until December 3.