CHRISTMAS has been cancelled at a popular country park after council bosses revealed an annual festive event will not go ahead due to funding cuts.

Santa in the Woods, which has taken place at Westley Heights, in Langdon Hills Country Park, for the past two decades, regularly attracts up to 3,000 people.

Thurrock Council has now confirmed rumours the event will be scrapped, after the budget for the park was slashed in half at the start of this financial year.

Campaigners have called for Santa in the Woods, much-loved by families and children, to be saved as it makes a profit for the council and helps children get close to nature.

Ken Rogers, 73, of Lampitts Hill, Corringham, from the Friends of Langdon Hills Action Group, said: “It’s absolutely terrible. We are all so disappointed about it.

“The strange thing is we used to make a profit from it for the council, and all the volunteers used to run it for free. We can’t understand why they would cut it.”

Nicole Davis, 54, of Dalmeny, Langdon Hills, added: “They have taken away everything that children can do in our woods. What else is there left now?

“Santa in the Woods was a fantastic way to introduce children to nature. They all used to dress up and then go into the woods, re-enacting Grimms’ fairytales.

“Seeing as it used to be run mainly by volunteers, people are wondering why it has been cancelled.

“Losing Santa in the Woods is really the last straw."

In February, three out of five rangers at the country park were scrapped, as well as a children's education officer, after the council announced a series of cuts following reduction in its Government grants.

A spokesman for Thurrock Council said: “Following financial constraints across the council, and subsequent staff reductions within the Environment Department, unfortunately we will not be hosting a Santa in the Woods Christmas event at Langdon Hills Country Park this year.”

Santa in the Wood has previously been organised by park rangers, and staffed mainly by volunteers.

The Friends of Langdon Hills Action Group, which was formed in protest to the cuts, held a Farewell Santa event earlier this year when rumours Santa in the Woods would be cancelled first began circulating.