Tempers flare at Essex fun day branded 'absolute con' by parents

A furious row broke out at a kids' fun day in Essex branded a "con" by parents.

Kidz Fest, in Orsett, cost £36 for a family of four with further fees for add-ons like the bouncy castle and rides.

Parents criticised the organisers after turning up to find the event was "basically a school fete."

Police were called to calm tempers at the event run by Tom Kembery, whose Frozen-themed fun day was also lambasted last year.

Mother-of-two Alison Wilson, who bought her Kidz Fest tickets through voucher website Groupon, said she felt she had been “completely ripped off”.

“Mine won’t be the only complaint, people were going mad, the police were even called! It was daylight robbery,” she wrote on Twitter.

Another, Vikki Pontefract, posted: “@Groupon_UK I bought from you #kidzfest tickets & it was an absolute con! Everyone was fuming! Any way I can contact them to complain.”

Jessica Turner, 29, who took five children to the event, told the Sun: “The event was a complete and utter disgrace, it was basically a school fete.

“We paid, on top of £128 entry, £5 each for the kids to go on unlimited bouncy castles, they only went on a couple.

“His excuse was people are still having fun — because parents wanted to put on a brave face for their kids and it cost them an arm and a leg to do so.”

Organiser Mr Kembery said refunds would be available for people who booked through certain voucher websites.

He added: “We made a huge effort, there was loads of free activities but there was stuff charged at an extra cost like inflatables and funfair rides.

“We made it clear in all our advertising materials that the event would provide many activities without further charge – including craft and dance workshops, singing and theatre performances and a petting zoo – but that others, provided by external suppliers, would carry an additional cost. Some members of the public appeared to have forgotten or ignored that.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Officers attended to prevent breach of the peace and offered words of advice to attendees.”