Dozens of employees at one of the most popular amusement parks in the county are set to be made jobless, bosses have revealed.

Dreamland Margate has announced that 52 members of staff have been given their notice of redundancy from July 1 following a drastic fall in revenue in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Just 22 workers will remain to "protect the site and continue business planning" after the government's furlough scheme comes to an end on June 30.

Chief executive Eddie Kemsley says the decision was made as the park anticipates a substantial fall in visitor numbers when lockdown is lifted.

She explained: "No attraction in the world could have prepared for the devastation of Covid-19.

"The costs of running an amusement park with no guarantee of attendance coupled with the uncertain future of public gatherings represent a financial risk to Dreamland.

"Not only have we missed the vital Easter opening season, but restrictions are also likely to continue for leisure businesses like ours for the remainder of the summer, our busiest period.

"Beyond lockdown, social distancing means we must prepare for a substantial drop in predicted visitor numbers and income for the remainder of the year."

It has also been announced that the attraction will not reopen this summer.

Ms Kemsley says that all of the events originally planned for the next few months have been rescheduled, as she hopes to begin hosting them once restrictions have been lifted.

"These decisions were not taken lightly," she continued.

"Our business planning remains fluid and when we have a clearer picture of how leisure venues will be operated, we hope to be in a position to rehire staff.

"We are determined to survive, and we will return to entertain the thousands of families and fans who have supported us over the years."

This comes three weeks after it was revealed that Hi-Tide festival, which was due to be headlined by Fat Boy Slim and Madness, has been postponed until 2021.

The two-day event was due to be held at Dreamland in July as part of the theme park's 100th birthday celebrations.

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