THE last-minute cancellation of a Ribble Valley music festival has been branded ‘detrimental’ to Clitheroe.

Business owners said they regret the organisers of Summer Days choosing to call off the event, which was to be held over three days next month.

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Thousands of residents were expected to descend on the town during the three-day music festival which included headliners Jools Holland and Simply Red.

Louise Clough, the owner of Inn at the Station in the town, said: “We have had cancellations come through already.

“We lost three rooms at one of our sites and were holding other rooms for guests.

“We doubt that we will get anywhere near the same number of enquiries.

“The whole thing is detrimental to the town. Clitheroe has lost out.

“To get to this late stage and cancel is really bad.

“This should have been something they knew about months ago.”

Organisers said rising costs and ‘logistical obstacles’ were responsible for the cancellation of the new event, which was set to be held in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “I am so sorry to hear about the cancellation.

“I was looking forward to seeing Mick Hucknell in the Ribble Valley.

“I hope lessons will be learned from this and the organisers will work with the local authority and try again next year.

“It is a real shame and there will be some disappointed punters.

“A music festival in the Ribble Valley would have been fantastic and a real injection for the local economy.”

Ticket holders should contact their ticket vendors directly to receive a face value refund, organisers said.

In expectation of the proposed event, the owners of a town centre bar renovated its bathrooms and facilities.

Landlady at the Brown Cow Inn, Laura Smithies, said: “It is going to have a huge impact on us.

“We had people who could not get tickets book in with us.

“We spent around £400 having our bathrooms renovated and decorated the venue in the hope that families would come and stay.

“We had lots of people calling for lodgings but of course we have lost all of that business.”

Lisa Madden, owner of The Horsehoe Inn, said: “I think it is a real shame that it is not going ahead because it would have been great for Clitheroe.”

While owners of town venues said they were ‘disappointed’, a Clitheroe Chamber of Trade member hoped there would not be wide-scale impact.

Les Hind, who owns Castle Chippy, said: “It is always disappointing when functions are cancelled, especially as it would have brought people into the town.

“Thankfully we are quite active in hosting events so hopefully it won’t be felt too much.”