Medway Council has explained its last-minute decision to cancel its popular firework display.

The event at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham, was shelved at 6.15pm yesterday – just 45 minutes before it was due to begin.

Visitors were told it was due to "excessive wind speed at height" which meant the almost £40,000 event could not go ahead safely.

Disappointed families took to social media to hit out at the local authority after receiving the news while others supported the decision to put safety first.

This morning a council spokesman apologised, saying: "We are extremely sorry the much-loved fireworks display was cancelled just after 6pm.

"We did not take this decision lightly, after all the preparations had been put into place and crowds had started arriving.

"Unfortunately, after monitoring the weather throughout the day, very late in the day, wind speeds started to consistently exceed 30mph and were increasing, and just before 6pm we received a yellow weather warning.

"Due to the height of the professional fireworks display, this would have presented risks such as firework shells being blown off course and potentially affecting residential areas and traffic.

"We know how much local people love the evening and it was just as disappointing for us, our stewards and contractors, but safety always has to be our prime concern.

"Each year Medway Council provides an amazing programme of free festivals and events but sadly the weather is out of our control and safety has to be our primary concern at all times."

The display was set to fired from the top of the hill which is unsheltered and has higher wind speeds than those in surrounding streets.

The decision was made on the advice of the firework provider and taken by the head of the council's culture and libraries department.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the event will be rescheduled.