This weekend’s Petersfield Christmas Festival has been cancelled amid concerns about the impact of Storm Darragh.

While organisers Hometown said in a statement they are “extremely disappointed” to cancel the annual festive event in the town centre, they felt it was sensible given the circumstances.

A spokesperson said: “After months of planning, many weeks of promotion, signage and posters up around town, paperwork and licenses all approved and in order, attractions and hours of entertainment booked, toilet teams ready, a huge crew on standby, kit prepped and ready to be loaded we are sadly being battered by the British weather and storm Darragh is due to be wreaking havoc this weekend.“

A yellow weather warning has been issued across the South from Friday to Monday and winds of up to 65mph are expected to hit over the weekend.

Organisers were concerned about the potential of winds lifting gazebos and sending objects flying.

The group will be announcing dates for their 2025 line up of events in the coming weeks.