The rain has led to the cancellation of this weekend's Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural Society show.

More than 1,500 people had been expected to turn up to the show at Florence Park, Cowley on Saturday but organisers had to pull the plug because the park is too waterlogged.

The decision was made after an inspection of the park was made with council officials yesterday.

It is only the second time the show has been cancelled in the last 25 years it has been held at Florence Park. The show was last cancelled in 1997 as it coincided with the funeral of Princess Diana.

Society chairman Freddie Drinkwater said: "Because of the state of the water-logged park we have had to cancel. It was not an easy decision to make as it is going to disappoint lots of people who enjoy the show as well as exhibitors, charities and entertainers that we had booked.

"However it would have been extremely difficult to get lorries on the park and build marquees and if any damage had been caused to the park by the show we would have had to pay for it."

The size of the show, which features more than 100 categories for horticulturists, means it could not be re-arranged for this year Mr Drinkwater added.

It will next be held in Florence Park on September 12, 2009.