A festival set to be headlined by opera star Katherine Jenkins has been axed.

Medway Council turned down plans for a four-day festival at the Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham which had been due to take place at the end of May.

Despite this, Stardust Festivals Ltd said the events were not cancelled and they were continuing to work with the authority.

But now the event, planned for Friday, May 26, and which had been due to be headlined by Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins, has been cancelled.

A statement to ticketholders said: "We’re sorry to share the news that, despite our best efforts, we’ve had to make the tough decision to cancel the May 26th 2023 Katherine Jenkins Classical event due to the rail engineering works taking place over the late May bank holiday weekend.

"We understand that this may come as a disappointment to some of you, and we want you to know that we share your disappointment."

In February, Medway Council's licensing hearing panel turned down its licence application, saying the large-scale nature of the events would have a "negative" effect on the local community and councillors were concerned about traffic disruption.

The festivals' organisers said they planned to get around the issue of the rail engineering works by laying on shuttle buses from the O2 in Greenwich and a number of other locations across the south east.

The event schedule also included an 80s,90s, and 00s music event for the Sunday, and a family fun day on the Monday.

During the consideration of the licence for the events, Kent Police made it clear they had a number of concerns about the proposed location of the festival and the impact visitors would have on the town.

Meanwhile another festival, the Dream Valley dance music event - which was due to take place at Great Lines on Saturday, May 27 with capacity for 25,000 punters - has been moved.

It will now take place in Upminster on Friday, August 25.

"We are truly sorry we cannot deliver the original show in Kent you were promised..”

A statement from Stardust Festivals said: "Due to rail engineering works between 26-29th May, we've had to make the tough decision to move the Dream Valley to a new date and location.

"We are truly sorry we cannot deliver the original show in Kent you were promised.

"We have been granted a five-year license for Great Lines Heritage Park which means we will bring you the festival you love for years to come, starting from May 2024 in Medway!"

Medway Council has been approached for comment in relation to claims regarding the five-year licence.

The Dream Valley event went ahead last year at Lydd Airport near Ashford.