Madness concert at Carlisle Racecourse abandoned due to rain

The concert was cancelled for safety reasons

The torrential summer downpour lead to one of Cumbria's largest open-air concerts being abandoned.

While Cumbria escaped the worst of flooding which hit other parts of the north of England, Saturday's concert by 80s band Madness was called off.

Bosses at Carlisle Racecourse said the event, part of the Stobart Summer Festival, had to be scrapped due to a waterlogged course.

More than 7,500 ticket holders will be entitled to a refund.

The Environment Agency said no flood warnings or alerts were in effect in the county.

Saturday evening's concert was to be the culmination of the day-long Stobart Summer Festival, which course general manager Richard Clements said had to be called off for safety reasons.

He said: "It's obviously regrettable, but we had no other choice given the state of the ground.

'Persistent rain'

"I am so sorry for the thousands of people throughout Cumbria and beyond who were looking forward to what would have been a fantastic evening's entertainment.

"We have just had the wettest June since records began more than a century ago and this first week in July has brought more heavy and persistent rain to compound the problem.

"The track is not raceable and would remain so even if the weather was dry for the rest of today and tomorrow.

"The forecast is for more rain, which means there is no prospect of holding the concert either, with both the course and car park already out of use.

"Everyone who has paid with any sort of card will get a refund. We have 2,300 of those to process so it will take a while and we urge people to be patient with us.

"Anyone who has paid by cash will need to send their tickets into the racecourse office so we can issue a refund to them too."

He said the event may be restaged later in the year.