A WORCESTER farm park is to close its gates after seeing a catastrophic fall in visitor numbers.

Only 50 people visited Bennett's Farm, in Lower Wick, over Easter.

The attraction normally sees 10 times that number of customers.

Owner John Bennett said the foot-and-mouth crisis had forced his decision, but changing attitudes and the National Curriculum for a more general decline in visitors were mainly to blame.

"People are just not looking for this kind of thing anymore," said Mr Bennett, who had pledged to soldier on just before Easter.

"It's such a shame and I'm very disappointed."

Pygmy goats and chickens are among the animals which will "dwindle in numbers" or be sold on as the park, next to Bennett's farm shop, opens for the last time next week.

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From P1 / 6 "It's wonderful for a little child to be able to get close to the animals," said Mr Bennett. "But local people will travel miles for a day out and ignore what's on their own doorstep.

"With today's National Curriculum, children in the county have no more time to look at the countryside than those in inner cities.

"I just can't afford to keep it open when it's obvious people don't want it anymore."

Mr Bennett will still be accepting bookings for groups to look around the park and the 12th Century St Cuthbert's Church and Farm Museum.

The farm shop will be open for business as usual.