ORGANISERS behind Bromsgrove's first Christmas Festival have defended their decision to cancel the event 'in the interest of public safety'.

More than 30 stalls were organised for the Christmas market on Sunday (December 10), including arts and craft stalls, but CJ’s Events Warwickshire cancelled the event on Friday due to forecasted adverse weather conditions.

Dozens of residents who had planned to attend the festival then took to social media to complain.

One reader, Darryl Thomas, commented: "I've just got back from a short break in Lapland. If they cancelled things because of potential snow nothing would ever happen."

Another, Kirsty Rose, wrote: "How stupid. If anything, winter weather would make the market more Christmassy."

CJ's company director Jamie Walker has since responded to complaints, insisting the decision was not taken lightly.

He said: "The cancellation of Sunday’s market was a disappointment for our team who had spent months on planning the event. Decisions like this aren’t taken lightly.

"Although snow at a Christmas Festival would have been incredible and would have looked amazing, the behind the scenes work, which visitors don’t always consider and would put lives at risk.

Mr Walker added: "Towing trailers, setting up heavy metal frames in icy conditions, along with making traders travel to this event, is against our working ethos. By 11am on Friday, nine traders had already cancelled.

"Other consideration also has to be taken into account. How do people get to the event? Public transport is cancelled. Car Parks are blocked.

"Taking this into consideration, expected footfall would have dramatically dropped.

"We have to take advice issued by Met Office and make a decision on this.

"It would have been too dangerous for our team and traders to have worked in these conditions.

"Safety if our upmost priority, rather than financial gain."