Thousands flock to the area in summer

Thousands of East Midlanders were enjoying their traditional Easter getaway when a bus ploughed into a crowd outside one of the town's main attractions.

Many staff at Fantasy Island were too shocked to return to work on Tuesday, and virtually everyone in the town has been touched by the tragedy.

Ingoldmells is part of Lincolnshire's self styled "Fun Coast", along with the resorts of Skegness and Mablethorpe.

They are places offering a traditional British seaside holiday, with arcades, fish and chips, bingo and expanses of sandy beach.

Half my staff are off sick because they saw it happen and it was like a bomb in Iraq John Woodward, Fantasy Island

It has large busy beaches, a Butlin's holiday centre, and other family attractions dominated by Fantasy Island, which boasts rides, amusements and large restaurants.

The massive influx of visitors stay mostly in caravan parks and chalets, or make day trips from towns and cities in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Whole families

John Woodward, the owner of Fantasy Island, said his staff had been badly affected: "It is a terrible situation, a terrible thing to happen.

"Half my staff are off sick because they were there, they saw it happen and it was like a bomb in Iraq"

Some parts of the town will have been badly affected by this, they can't help but be affected. Gordon Wilson, Ingoldmells councillor

"You walk down that road and ask anybody and they will say it was an accident waiting to happen.

"There is a problem that Fantasy Island is a victim of its own success but Fantasy Island also polices its own property stall holders."

The park is open as usual but floral tributes have been left near where the accident took place

Gordon Wilson, who represents Ingoldmells on the district and county councils said: "It's a dreadful thing to have happened.

"One death would have been terrible, but five people dying is a tragedy especially since it involves children and it seems whole families were involved.

"People come to the town for a holiday, to enjoy themselves.

"The children especially are looking at the lights and the sounds and are having a good time, they are mesmerised, so they are not thinking so much about the roads."

Mr Wilson acknowledged the road where the accident took place was very busy at times.

He said: "You just have to walk down Sea Lane and see how crowded it gets, with so many people and all the shops.

"But this is not a time for apportioning blame. Some parts of the town will have been badly affected by this, they can't help but be affected.

"The town must come to terms with this then look at it in a balanced way later."