Dragon puppet flight event cancelled due to wind

West Yorkshire community groups had joined together with renowned creatives to bring the flying puppet to Wakefield

A farewell event that would have seen a giant dragon puppet take to the skies over Wakefield has been cancelled.

The Hatchling was part of a theatrical performance that unfolded across the bank holiday weekend.

The creature, which is both a puppet and a kite, was set to take flight at Pugneys Country Park on Sunday.

However, organisers said strong winds had forced them to cancel the event.

The Hatchling was welcomed as part of Wakefield Council's 366-day programme of cultural and creative activity.

Live events group Trigger, the creatives behind the spectacle, said The Hatchling, which stands taller than a double-decker bus, is the largest puppet to be solely operated by humans.

The three-day event began at Wakefield Cathedral, where the dragon hatched from its egg before roaming the city's streets.

The performance was set to culminate with The Hatchling taking flight over the park on Sunday evening to conclude its dramatic metamorphosis but strong winds had made it unsafe.

A council spokesperson said: "The safety of our audience, performers, staff and crew is always our main concern.

"We’re really sorry to disappoint you. This is not the ending we wanted for this fabulous weekend but we hope you understand."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.