LONDON, Aug 2: Britain’s biggest theme park has called off the country’s first ‘National Muslim Fun Day’ because of lack of interest, the park said on Wednesday.

Alton Towers in central England was to open on Sept. 17 for Muslims — with halal food, a strict dress code and prayer areas.

Music, gambling and alcohol were to be banned for the day and theme park rides such as ‘Ripsaw’, ‘Corkscrew’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ all segregated by sex.

But the park said the event’s organisers, Islamic Leisure, who rented the park for the day and were marketing the event, had called it off due to “insufficient ticket sales”.

“Alton Towers is disappointed that the planned Family Fun Day on Sunday 17th September has had to be cancelled,” the park said in a statement. A park spokeswoman said Islamic Leisure would refund those who bought tickets.

Islamic Leisure’s phones were not being answered on Wednesday.

Organisers had hoped to fill a niche for Britain’s 1.7 million Muslims, some of whom may be uncomfortable with mainstream entertainment.

But the fun day had caused some consternation: a non-Muslim couple scheduled to hold their wedding at the park’s hotel complained to newspapers that event organisers told them the bride and female guests would have to cover up.

The park promised the party would be exempt from the rules.—Reuters