The boss of a Christmas theme park dubbed a "winter blunderland" did not attend a Court hearing because he has cancer.

Victor Mears and his younger brother Henry, both from Brighton, are being prosecuted over complaints about the Lapland New Forest Park near Ringwood.

It was closed shortly before Christmas last year after hundreds of people complained.

But Victor, 66, of Selsfield Drive, Brighton, has been advised not to travel more than 30 miles from the Royal Sussex Hospital after suffering kidney failure.

He is due to undergo a further operation soon.

Dorset County Council brought nine charges against him and his brother, the company's director.

Henry Mears, aged 59, of Coombe Road, Brighton, did attend Thursday's Wimborne Magistrates' Court hearing.

Both brothers will now appear before a district judge at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court, in November, when they are due to enter pleas.

Up to 50,000 people are believed to have bought £30-a-head tickets for the park.

A Facebook group set up by angry customers labelled it a "winter blunderland".

The trading standards charges relate to allegedly misleading adverts and the way the event was run.

Magistrates insisted medical evidence be presented should Victor Mears find it impossible to attend the November hearing.