THIS year's Wirral food, drink and music festival has been cancelled its organisers have confirmed this afternoon. 

Due to take place at Birkenhead Park in September, the event was to have featured performances by Echo and the Bunnymen, OMD and The Coral.

All those who had bought tickets for the music concerts will be contacted directly and given a full refund.

The festival was postponed in 2020 and again in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the decision has been taken to cancel the event in light of the council’s current financial position.

While the festival was designed to be a commercial event that would not directly cost the council money it would still require considerable resources from across the organisation to support and subsequent budget savings mean that this is no longer possible.

Wirral Council’s director of regeneration and place, Alan Evans, said: "It is disappointing to see the Wirral food, drink and music festival unable to go ahead but we will make sure all those who have bought tickets are refunded as quickly as possible."