Distraught Bronte Vintage Gather-ing bosses were forced to cancel the second day of the weekend charity extravaganza due to torrential rain.

Activities went ahead as planned on Saturday at the showfield in Haworth Road, Cullingworth.

But after appalling weather over-night, event organisers decided at 8am the following day Sunday’s schedule would have to be axed.

“The field was just a quagmire so we had no option but to cancel for safety reasons,” said spokesman Trish Wood.

“We were absolutely gutted. It was the first time in the event’s 16-year history we had been in this situation.

“The weather on Saturday was poor but everything still went ahead. But we had a lot more rain overnight and it would just not have been safe trying to move things around the site.

“The field was a mudbath and tractors were having to pull things out that were stuck. It was horrendous.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to the army of volunteers that worked tirelessly helping to sort things out. They were all heroes.”

The event has coined in more than £300,000 over the years for Manor-lands, the Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice. Mrs Wood said it was not yet known how the cancellation has affected this year’s proceeds.

“It still seems totally surreal,” she added. “We’ve had lots of messages of support that are greatly appreciated.”

Attractions on Saturday included stalls, motorbike stunt displays, a dog agility show, falconry, horse rides, traction engines, tractors, classic vehicles, bouncy castles and bands.

A planned raffle will now take place at Manorlands. The Bronte Vintage Gathering group’s next event is harness racing on June 29.