Bedford Park damage repairs paid for by event organisers

The event, which included an ice rink, was set up in Bedford Park

Repairs to a park after a Winter Wonderland event will be paid for by the organisers, a meeting heard.

The event took place in Bedford Park without planning permission from Bedford Borough Council.

It rained for 21 of the 40 days it was open, which turned the grass in the park to mud.

Paul Pace, the council's chief officer for environment, said the organisers had provided a £1,000 bond to reinstate the grassed area.

Mr Pace added: "Should we feel that it's going to be more than that, then we are able to go back to the promoter and ask for a further contribution.

"Obviously, if it's under that value we do return any short fall back to the promoter."

Mr Pace said it was "tricky" to predict when the work would be completed due to the wet weather.

He said: "What we can't do is go on there and cause more of an impact, so we do need to be sensible about how we do that."