Furious parents have branded a childrens' festival a "rip off" - but organisers say they were forced to contact police over the backlash.
Visitors to Lytham Kids Festival in Lancashire complained of 'filthy and unsupervised' inflatable play areas with parts of the event still closed as families arrived.
Parents say the event was not as billed by promoters, with people being told they have to pay an additional £10 per person to access certain areas, though organisers deny this.
A number of families paid more than £30 altogether but felt "let down", Manchester Evening News reports.
Among them were Sarah Bargh and her partner Emma Ancell, who took their five-year-old son to the festival on Sunday.
Sarah, 41, from Blackpool, Lancashire, said: "We went with some of our friends this morning and it was shocking.
"The kids had been so excited but it was just a massive let down," she continued.
"We'd paid £32 for two adults and one child. We knew you'd have to pay extra for food and extras, but we thought the ticket included everything else.
"The advert showed a big outdoor slip and slide. When we got there, there was an area behind a security gate with about eight bouncy castles.
"It turned out you had to pay an additional £10 per person for a wristband to even get in there.
"There was one inflatable area that didn't require a wristband. It was like an assault course under a cover.
"The kids went in and it was all wet and filthy.
"We tried to complain to someone who worked there and he said they couldn't do anything for us.
"They couldn't help the rain but it was all really poor."
Another mum, who asked not to be named, claimed: "It was absolutely appalling.
"We arrived at 10.30am and a lot of the stuff wasn't even open.
"There was no foam in the foam area, and that was at about 11am. It was only a four-hour event so it should have been open when the festival opened at 10am.
"So in the end we'd paid £30 to walk from the car park and back again with the kids in tears.
"It was just a rip off."
Other parents complained of being charged £8 for a slime-making class.
A Facebook group set up by people demanding a refund has more than 580 members.
A spokesperson for Lytham Hall posted on the group urging people to complain to festival organisers, Red Cherry Media UK.
The post said: "This is the first time Lytham Hall has hired its ground for this event.
"Lytham Hall is a charity, and part of its sustainable plan is to hire its outside spaces to various event organisers."
The spokesman said Lytham Hall had nothing to do with the organisation of the festival.
"Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to ensuring everyone enjoys our Hall and Parkland." the statement continued.
"Please be assured that the Management and Trustees of the Hall will be looking into any complaints with the organisers. Thankyou, Lytham Hall."
The MEN contacted Red Cherry Media UK for a response.
Organiser Katie Harris of Red Cherry Media UK spoke to the Lancashire Evening Post about the backlash.
She said: "Costs for the wristbands were all clearly stated on Facebook and all on the booking systems as advertised.
"It does also state on the ticket pages about the chance of poor weather .
"Because of the weather we did have to shut down some of the slides for short periods of time due to health and safety issues to ensure the children were safe.
"But this has got completely out of hand. It has escalated out of control. I've had threats. I've got two small children and I don't feel safe."
She added that she had been in touch with the police about the 'abuse'.
She also said she would be considering legal action over the "harassment, sharing my personal details and photos online and over the defamation of my character".
