An outside music festival Party in the Park has been axed after organisers were unable to guarantee it could be Covid-safe.

Mike Farrow who runs the Appleyard at Sittingbourne, which was hosting the event, has had to pull the plug after he said Swale council insisted on a 'no singing, no dancing' rule.

The annual bash was scheduled for this Saturday, July 3, on the Appleyard's sports ground in Gore Court Road with local band Marylebone Jelly headlining.

But Mr Farrow admitted: “It has been a disaster. We have tried so hard but we were struggling to make it Covid-compliant.

“We did all we could do but we couldn’t guarantee that people wouldn’t dance or sing. The council told us that if we couldn’t guarantee that, I could be prosecuted, fined and even sent to prison.”

He said attempts to rearrange the date had proved impossible to coordinate with bands, stage, sound and lighting companies and that even beer supplies were being limited.

Last year’s event, which was to have starred Toploader, also had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The previous year had featured E17.

This year’s line-up had been confirmed as Marylebone Jelly, Curb Pilots, The Choos, The Martellos, Elvis Presley tribute act Taking Care of Vegas and a tribute to Robbie Williams. Tickets had gone on sale back in March.

A statement on the venue’s website said: “With the latest government announcement that restrictions will not be lifted on Monday, June 21, it is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the postponement of this year’s Party in the Park.

“We know that this will come as a huge disappointment to everyone and this is not a decision we have taken lightly. After long consultations with the council and our suppliers, this year it would be impossible to give you the day that you have come to expect. However, we have managed to secure the same great bands for a new date.”

Tickets already bought will be automatically valid for June 25 next year. For details, email admin@theappleyard.net

Meanwhile, organisers of the quirky Chickenstock, which is held at nearby Stockbury, have confirmed their event will go ahead as planned next month.

Moya Taylor said: "Following on from the news that the Black Deer festival has cancelled I just wanted confirm that Chickenstock is going ahead as we have under 4,000 attendees and we are only running at 50% capacity with only 2,000 tickets available."

She said changes to Covid restrictions made on May 17 allow them to carry on even though the planned stage four has been pushed back to July 19.

There will be performances from 47 bands and singers, plus acoustic acts. There will also be a selection of food vendors and craft stalls, a choice of local beers, ciders, wine and spirits and children’s entertainment with circus skills, drumming workshops, storyteller and craft activities.

The event will take place from Thursday, July 22 to Sunday, July 25 at Pett Farm, Stockbury. Tickets must be bought in advance.

An adult four-day weekend ticket costs £79. Under-18s go free. To buy tickets, go to tinyurl.com/ChickenstockTickets.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne