Waterlogged field forces show cancellation

Keswick Show dates back to 1860 and attracts up to 10,000 visitors

An agricultural show which attracts around 10,000 visitors has been cancelled after its marquees blew down and the field became waterlogged.

The organisers of Keswick show said they had made the decision with "sincere regret and sadness" but had a responsibility to their "generous landowners".

However, the Barrow Fell Race will go still go ahead at 14:00 BST on Monday.

Show treasurer Harry Thompson said halting the show was the "only decision" that could be made.

He said: "It’s the worst time possible as we’ve already spent a lot of money and this will dig into our reserves, but it is the only decision we could make."

The organisers met on Wednesday and were hopeful the show could still go ahead but the arrival of Storm Lilian on Friday led to the ground becoming waterlogged.

The Barrow Fell Race will still go ahead and organisers say the show will be back in 2025

"It just poured down all down night and it would have meant the vehicles getting stuck and visitors walking around in mud," Mr Thompson said.

"I've been treasurer since 2000 and sadly what with the weather, BSE and Covid, we've had to cancel 11 times.

"We’d like to apologise to everyone affected and we know people will be disappointed but we have to be fair to the landowner and put safety first."

He added that the show would be back in 2025.