Inside abandoned theme park hiding a dark secret where security guards see 'ghosts'

An abandoned theme park which allegedly has a 'dark secret' remains eerily empty to this day, new pictures reveal.

Ben James, 32, from Cambridge explored the former attraction in Bari, Italy, where he captured creepy shots of abandoned roller coasters and a giant statue coming out of the ground.

It was closed around 2015 by the government - and rumours have swirled since about why it happened, and whether the site is haunted.

The British urban explorer was told that two children had died while on some of the rides in the theme park, causing it to be shut down over safety standards.

A giant still peers above the ground at the abandoned theme park in Italy (mediadrumimages/@places_forgotten)

He also heard from security guards who claimed they experienced paranormal activity while working there, and one said they had seen the ghosts of children running around the abandoned rides.

Ben said: "It’s been abandoned since around 2015,”

“It was apparently abandoned because of safety measures.

“Two children apparently died on some of the rides so it got closed down by the government and just never reopened.

Ben James, 32, from Cambridge captured creepy shots of abandoned rides (mediadrumimages/@places_forgotten)

The urban explorer says a security guard told him he saw the ghost of two children at the now-empty park (mediadrumimages/@places_forgotten)

“One of the security guards that looks after the site said that he’s seen the ghost of children running and laughing which is creepy and surreal.”

When Ben explored the grounds, he found that the place felt unbelievably surreal due to the thought that when open, the place would have been filled with joy and laughter that has now sunken into silence.

“It was very surreal, the fact that the place used to be so full of laughter and enjoyment and now it’s eerily silent,”

A comically huge bottle has been left intact (mediadrumimages/@places_forgotten)

A snack bar is still ready to serve customers (mediadrumimages/@places_forgotten)

One photograph shows a swinging ride still appearing mostly intact - if a little dusty - while an empty snack bar looks ready to serve customers.

A comically large sculpture of a bottle is also seen rising above the rides, alongside one of a giant peering above the ground.

Ben likened the scenes to a "something out of the Walking Dead or The Last of Us", and said his favourite part was looking at the abandoned rides.

He said:“My favourite thing there was the rides left behind.

“One of the roller coasters had been taken out but it still had some of the rides and the stalls.

“It was all very very surreal.”