Banksy opens not children's "Disneyland"

Of all the seaside pearls scattered around the English coastline designed for pleasure and family pastimes Weston-Super-Mare is something of a joke.

It has one of the oldest populations in Britain, and also a high concentration of problem families, shipped off to the seaside like so many others in the hope the bracing sea air will restore health. In the town’s most prestigous shopping street estate agents and charity shops alternate between drug recovery centres and solicitors.

Into this community comes the enfant terrible of modern street art, Banksy. Born just up the road in Bristol when he was a lad a day out in Weston would have been on his family’s “to do” list: But a day has always been enough in dreary Weston. Now Banksy has set out, in his biggest work yet, to make a Day Out in Weston a day to remember.

For a few brief weeks the town will find itself at the apex of the street art world, with people flying in from thousands of kilometres away, probably into Bristol’s charming little airport, to attend the latest Banksyhappening.

The website for street artist Banksy’s ‘Dismaland’ theme park crashed as people rushed to buy tickets.

Banksy’s spokeswoman said the site had received more than six million hits by Friday (21 August), the day the park opened.

A message on the site said “due to unprecedented demand” it is currently unable to process online ticket sales, and Saturday and Sunday tickets will only be available on the door.

The dark themed theme park is running for five weeks in Weston-Super-Mare.

According to the materials: Banksy gives Weston-Super-Mare a day in the sun with biggest show yet; Ticket misery for Banksy fans as theme park opens.

Banksy's works HERE