Silcock's fair was hastily re-arranged for the final weekend of the school holidays after it was postponed days before the original date was due to take place on July 24.

But another wet summer has put the final nail in the coffin of the event, which was in its last year at the West Paddock site.

From next year, the popular event will be relocated to a designated area of Worden Park, in an attempt to overcome the ground conditions which have put paid to the last two annual family funfairs.

John Silcock made a late decision to cancel the event, which has been advertised for August 28 to September 1 in the town for the past few weeks, on Tuesday morning.

He pulled the plug following an early morning site visit and contacted South Ribble Borough Council immediately.

Mr Silcock, who was unavailable for comment as the Guardian went to print, had previously said that cancellation of the fair, which has been coming to Leyland for more than 20 years, would cost them in excess of £5,000.

He said: "It is killing us to be honest.

"We are in the hands of the gods and don't take the decision lightly. What we've got to look at is the safety of the public who come on site and then after that the financial cost of ground reinstatement."

For more on this story pick-up your copy of the Guardian