Oxford's annual Easter egg roll has been blown out on Friday because of the stormy weather expected to hit the city.

Organisers have called off the 17th annual event at Shotover Country Park, in Headington, amid fears the forecast gale force winds would cause safety problems.

The contest, which is Oxford City Council's biggest Easter event and attracts hundreds of people, could be held on another weekend.

Gusts of wind predicted to reach 40mph in Oxford could have put the event in a scramble by destroying entries laid out for the best painted egg competition, which takes place before the egg rolling contest.

There were also concerns refreshment and display tents would have been blown down.

After putting up cancellation notices, Anthony Roberts, countryside officer at the park, said : "This is the earliest Easter we have had since 1980 and that obviously plays its part in the bad weather.

"We have been checking the Met Office website for the past few days and they have been forecasting strong winds in Oxford in the morning.

"Those winds would have thrown our event into chaos. Eggs would have been blown off tables and ended up smashing all over the place, while tents and displays would have been knocked down.

"The egg rolling contest wouldn't have been so badly affected because it is more sheltered, but there would have been no point in holding the day without the best painted egg contest.

"It could have got very messy. It isn't a decision we have take lightly at all, but we would be taking a risk running an outdoor event in conditions like these.

"As the event takes place on one of the tallest hills in Oxford it is very exposed to gusts of wind."

Last year's event was held in brilliant sunshine, but with Good Friday being two weeks earlier this year, the festival has fallen foul of the unfavourable conditions.

Organisers are hoping to rearrange the contest for later in the year but a date has not yet been fixed.