Steam fair cancelled after downpours drench field
A steam fair set to be held in County Durham has been cancelled after downpours drenched its field.
Organisers of the Chester-le-Street Steam and Vintage Fair said the event planned for 13 and 14 July could not go ahead.
They said they were "devastated" to cancel but they could "not risk the field becoming impassable" with safety "paramount".
People who have paid for tickets, camping and trade stalls would be contacted to discuss refunds, they added, with the event possibly being rearranged to later in the summer.
The two-day fair was to be held on the Lambton Estate and was billed as having "hundreds of vehicles from times past" featuring the "unique smell" of steam-powered machines.
In a statement on the event's website, organisers said rain all day on Tuesday had "affected the field badly".
They said: "The forecast for the rest of the week isn't looking great and we need to preserve the field for future years.
"We have not made this decision lightly and we will be exploring possibilities for holding the event later in the summer.
"We are devastated to have to make this decision, but we just can’t risk the field becoming impassable and getting vehicles in and out of the site safely is paramount."
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