THE organisers of Skipton Gala are warning that this year's event may have to be cancelled.

Concerns were raised after it came to light that The Moscow State Circus had booked the town's Aireville Park the week before the gala on June 12,

Now the gala organisers are worried that the park might not be in a fit state to hold its funfair, particularly if there is a spell of bad weather

Chairman of the gala committee Geoff Dunn said that when he first heard the news he had had a sleepless night. "If it rains, everybody knows what the park is like," he said.

Mr Dunn added that the circus had been booked since August and if it went ahead in the park the week before the gala, cancellation was a real possibility.

The booking of the park is usually the responsibility of the district council's operational services department, but its chief officer has left since the booking was made.

The task of finding a solution has fallen to Craven's head of economic and community development, Jonathan Kerr.

He explained that he had been trying to get in contact with the circus. Possible options were measures to ensure that damage to the park was minimised or finding another venue for the circus.