Kite festival postponed due to high winds

A Dorset town's kite festival has been postponed due to forecast high winds and rain.

Dorchester Kite Festival, organised by Dorchester Town Council with White Horse Kite Flyers, was set to take place on Saturday on The Great Field.

The Met Office forecasts heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 41mph and the organising team has put up a message to say that would make it "unsafe".

The festival team said the safety of staff and attendees "must come first" and added it was working on confirming and announcing a new date as soon as possible.

It would have been the first event of its kind in the county, a decade after the popular Weymouth International Beach Kite Festival ended.

Its aim is to attract professional kite flyers from the area, across the UK and beyond.

"With sustained wind speeds expected to reach around 20mph and gusts up to 40mph, it would be unsafe to erect gazebos," the team message reads.

"This means we would be unable to host food stalls or provide the planned free kite-making activities."

It added that while wind was "essential" for kite flying, very strong winds could "prevent large, spectacular kites - often a highlight of the festival - from being displayed".

"Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you soon for a fantastic day of kites, activities, and family fun," it said.

Another nearby Saturday event, the music SummerFest in Weymouth, has also been postponed due to the weather.