Cumberland Show forced to cancel

Rising levels of the River Eden led to the cancellation

Bad weather has caused the cancellation of the Cumberland Show.

The annual event, due to take place in Carlisle on Saturday, was called off after heavy rain affected the terrain and caused the River Eden to rise.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting between organisers, the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the police.

Stallholders were packing up at the site in Rickerby Park following the last-minute announcement.

Organisers said that the weather had proved much worse than anticipated.

Show secretary, Donella Rosario, said: "We had a lot of animals which had been here overnight and we wanted to make sure people were warned and got away in case the river did flood."

In August last year the Lowther Show and Horse Driving Trials, near Penrith, had to be cancelled when the ground became a quagmire.

It was later announced that the show would not take place in 2009.