Mela cancelled due to bad weather.

Persistent torrential rain over recent weeks has forced this year’s Mela to be cancelled.

Bradford Council's Emergency Planning Team assessed conditions at Peel Park over the weekend but the heavily waterlogged ground conditions left no other option but to cancel the Mela for safety reasons.

Council safety officers and parks managers deemed the huge infrastructure of the Mela, which consists of stages, marquees, fairground rides and temporary buildings, would be comprimised by the soft and shifting ground in Peel Park.

Inspections on Saturday and Sunday revealed pools of standing water in various key areas.

There are also concerns that using certain parts of the park would severely damage the ground, including community football pitches, and would take several seasons of work to repair.

This, coupled with the Met Office's forecast for more heavy rain over the coming week, means it would be too dangerous to proceed with next weekend's event.

Bradford Council's Emergency Planning Team manager Mike Powell said: "The park is waterlogged at the moment and there is more bad weather predicted for most of the week, so trying to fix large stands into the ground would be too difficult and dangerous.

"Although this is a huge let down, we have been beaten by the elements.  We have to be responsible and consider the dangers associated with getting the park ready for next weekend and we are not prepared to put people at risk."

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Kris Hopkins said: "This is a great loss to the Bradford district because the Mela is the biggest celebration of its kind in the UK and one that is enjoyed by so many people from all parts of the community".

Officers are now looking into the possibility of programming some of the bands scheduled to play at the Mela as part of the concerts programme over the next 12 months.