A MAJOR show has been cancelled – just days before it was due to take place.

The spring fair at the home of the New Forest Show was set to be one of the biggest events staged in Hampshire over the bank holiday weekend.

Thousands of people were expected to flock through the gates of New Park, Brocken-hurst, on Sunday.

But disappointed organisers have been forced to scrap the fair following the recent heavy rain, which has left part of New Park waterlogged.

The annual event, which attracted 3,000 people last year, is staged by the New Forest Agricultural Show Society – the charity that runs the New Forest Show.

Announcing the fair’s cancellation, a society spokesman said: “The difficult decision was taken due to adverse weather conditions and the ground being deemed too wet to safely accommodate traders and the public, especially in light of the forecast for heavy rain this week.

“The society would like to thank everyone who was booked to support this event and would like to apologise for any inconvenience it may have caused.”

The fair was due to be staged in a field next to the New Forest Show arena.

Described as a craft and horse show, the one-day event would have featured 80 stalls showcasing charities and other organisations.

Good causes that were set to benefit included the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, the society’s charity of the year.

The life-saving service would have been provided with a free stand, with spectators being invited to make donations.

An auto-jumble due to have been held at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum near New Milton on Sunday has also fallen victim to the wet weather.

A museum spokesman said; “Our fields are completely waterlogged but the museum itself will be open all day.”