Ride operator at Winter Wonderland attraction is suspended over claims that he tickled children
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The operator of a children’s ride at a Winter Wonderland theme park has been suspended following accusations he inappropriately tickled a number of youngsters.
One mum has described her shock at seeing the uniformed member of staff tickling every child who boarded a ride at the EventCity park near the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
The mum, 36, said she challenged the man when he tickled her five-year-old son around the waist.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “It was so uncomfortable. You just don’t go around tickling other people’s children. Why on earth would you do that? As a parent, you think the worst but maybe it’s somebody who just doesn’t understand social norms. It was very, very strange.
(Photo: Manchester Evening News)
“I told him I thought it was weird him tickling strangers. I had to explain to my son it wasn’t OK for people to touch him. He was doing the same to all the children and one boy in particular. I told my son ‘you can say please don’t touch me’. When the guy came back, my son looked up at him and said ‘please don’t tickle me’. I was so proud of him. The man didn’t say anything.
“It was ridiculous. I was looking around to see if anyone was reacting. No-one was. At the time you don’t recognise how wrong it is. It was only afterwards when I got home it properly dawned on me.
“The children were only small, aged seven and eight. He seemed to particularly pick on one boy and followed him off the ride.”
The mum complained to the organisers, KingPin, who wrote her an email saying: “Action was taken immediately and we have spoken to the independent ride owner regarding the issue with this staff member. The member of staff in question has now been removed and will not be operating any further rides.
“The ride owner has spoken to the operator in question at length and the operator assured him that no harm was meant towards parents or children.
“Direct action was taken by us as a company, however if you wish to complain to the police we will fully co-operate with their investigation.”
A statement from KingPin Events, organisers of Winter Wonderland Manchester, said: “Winter Wonderland welcomes over 90,000 people every year and this is the first complaint received of this nature. It is being taken extremely seriously and until a full investigation has been completed the individual was immediately suspended.
“As this may be a legal issue Winter Wonderland will not be making any further comments. The independent ride owner has also informed the police.”
Winter Wonderland was at EventCity until 1 January and organisers said up to 100,000 tickets were sold.