AN “unforeseen financial situation” has forced the cancellation of a new festival less than two weeks before it was due to take place.

On Monday organisers of Ringmaster Festival announced with “great sadness and a heavy heart” the event would not be going ahead as they found themselves in a position where they could not guarantee payment to bands and other parties.

The festival was due to take place at Hopton Court, Hopton Wafers, Cleobury Mortimer, on Friday and Saturday, September 27-28 with a line-up including the likes of Maximo Park, Mystery Jets and Dry the River.

A statement from the organisers said: “As the festival entered the final stages it found itself in a financial position and as a result was no longer able to guarantee the appropriate monies owed to the bands and other parties at this stage.

“It is after careful consideration that Ringmaster has decided to unfortunately cancel this year’s event.

It added: “Ringmaster would like to thank everyone that has supported, been involved with and help spread the name over the past few months and would like to offer everyone their sincere apologies, in what has become a horrendous and saddening situation.

“The festival would like to apologise for this unfortunate circumstance and like to notify that tickets will be refunded and for all ticket holders to contact their ticket provider for more information.”

The festival was originally planned to take place on the Whitbourne Estate, near Worcester, on Saturday, September 28, but concerns over a deteriorating access road being unsafe for large volumes of traffic forced the move.

Following the change to the larger venue on the Shropshire-Worcestershire border, the organisers announced they would be adding an extra day with more acts and camping on both nights.

The entertainment was due to take place in six big top tents in various colours and sizes, all named after circus people and rides, giving the event the look and feel of a vintage circus from the 1930s.

For more information, go to ringmasterfestival.co.uk.