A community festival billed as 'North Somerset's answer to Glastonbury' has been cancelled - following issues with finding a venue.
Backwell Festival, organised by a team of volunteers, has been running for the last nine years on the first weekend of July using the playing fields of Backwell Junior School.
The family friendly event was initially started as a small PTA fundraising event but over the years has grown into a long weekend of dance, music and entertainment.
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The event, billed as North Somerset’s answer to Glastonbury, attracted crowds of several thousand over the two days with many camping overnight.
As well as two music stages, the festival also offered political debates, cooking demonstrations and a literature tent as well as children's activities.
Over the years the event has attracted many famous names from across the globe including Huey Morgan of the Fun Loving Criminals.
Other acts - many of which are local to the area - have included Moody Will and The Roll, Brockley Forest and Holly Henderson, spoken word artist Rebecca Tantony and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin author Louis de Bernières.
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But now, as the event gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, organisers have been told the school field is no longer available.
Festival director Jane Sabherwal said: “We are disappointed and sad as are the local community and the artists who loved performing at the festival.
“It has been a great pleasure to bring such a diverse and international art and cultural festival to the region over the years and we are receiving many messages of support from festival fans who are disappointed at hearing the news.
"We appreciate the support we have had over the years from the school for the last nine years."
The festival was first launched as a fundraiser for the school PTA.
But due to its success, it continued, long after the children of its founding members went on to secondary education.
Over the years the festival has raised around £25,000 for the school and local charities.
The festival had to be cancelled in 2017 due to work being done to fit a new water pipe by Bristol Water.
But it returned in 2018 and planning was already underway for this year's event.
Mrs Sabherwal said organisers hoped to bring the festival back in 2020, subject to it securing an alternative venue.
"We had to cancel the festival in 2017 due to the water pipe work," said Mrs Sabherwal.
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"We looked everywhere but could not find an alternative suitable venue so had no choice but to cancel.
"This is not the end of Backwell Festival and we hope to bring it back next year if we can find a venue."
Bristol Live has approached Backwell Junior School for comment.
