A FUNFAIR in Wimborne opened its doors to the public on Thursday despite concerns about coronavirus.

B. Cole & Sons Family Fairground is set to stay on Wimborne Showground until October 11, after opening on September 17.

However, residents have voiced their concerns about the fairground being open during a global pandemic.

David Benson is concerned about the potential lack of social distancing that may occur at the fair.

He said: “In the present climate, who gave permission for this fun fair to take place? It promotes the notion of young people being able to go out somewhere where there will be no social distancing, and adults allow it.

“The fair is asking for trouble and it seems absolutely ridiculous.”

In response to the public’s concerns, owner of B. Cole & Sons Tonia Cole has reassured visitors that safety is the fairground’s highest priority.

She said: “I understand people’s concerns but we’re doing our utmost to reassure people. We won’t allow more than six people in at a time and the site is massive so people can socially distance. We have track and trace (which is a legal requirement), hand sanitiser all over the fairground and we are cleaning everything.

“We are doing our best to help keep everyone safe.”

In response to people’s concerns about social distancing at the funfair, a spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “The event is taking place on private land and has no licensable activities, so permission from Dorset Council is not a legal requirement.

“However, we do have powers to stop an activity in relation to Covid-19 in very specific circumstances.

“The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for ensuring Covid-19 measures are in place to protect attendees, and we are liaising with them to ensure the HSE are satisfied with the measures the fun fair organisers have put in place.”

The fairground is open until October 11, from 4pm to 9pm on weekdays and 1pm to 9pm on weekends.