LODESTAR, Britain s newest indie-rock festival, due to take place at the end of this month, has been cancelled. The line-up, at Sunnyridge Farm in Lode, near Bottisham in Cambridgeshire was to have taken place over four days at the end of August. The line

LODESTAR, Britain's newest indie-rock festival, due to take place at the end of this month, has been cancelled.

The line-up, at Sunnyridge Farm in Lode, near Bottisham in Cambridgeshire was to have taken place over four days at the end of August. The line-up included Idlewild, Badly Drawn Boy, The Bees and British Sea Power - as well as stages for local and unsigned bands.

Organiser, farmer Doug Durrant, said he hoped the festival could go ahead for next year. He said: "I am deeply saddened by this difficult decision. I had hoped the event would bring something special to the community and give festival goers a truly memorable weekend. I regret that my life-long ambition to stage a festival on the land my family have farmed for four generations has had to be postponed."

"Despite a tremendous amount of effort in marketing the festival, unfortunately, we were battling against all the pictures and reports about the dreadful weather we've been having this year. Ticket sales were fairly low, and totally reflective of the weather up until the end of July. The weather might have turned around, but it's come too late for LodeStar. As director I had the responsibility of considering everybody involved with supplying services for the festival, and it was a judgement based on where we stand today.

"This year's bill was exciting - from the artists appearing on the Friday to the last act on the Sunday. I do feel that the weather has beaten us. So I felt it was best to scrap this year and crack on with 2008. I think that when you've worked hard for two years to put on a fantastic festival for people and it doesn't happen, the only way to get over it is to look forward."

He added: "Every wonderful person who has bought a ticket to LodeStar will be refunded in the next few days." The organisers would not disclose how many tickets had been sold for the event but say that everyone who has bought a ticket will get their money refunded.

They say it is unfortunate that LodeStar's inaugural year happened to be 2007 - a year with the worst summer weather in Britain for 200 years.

Doug said: "With the disastrous floods hitting the country, even established festivals have struggled. With heavy hearts the LodeStar team hope that the summer brightens for the UK and the festival scene. We have been overwhelmed by the unprecedented enthusiasm, support and loyalty of the bands involved. From the established ladies and gentlemen of The Rakes, The Bees and Idlewild to the cheeky chaps and chapesses of 2007's hottest breaking bands such as The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats and The Hoosiers. More than anyone, Badly Drawn Boy has shown a heart-warming passion towards LodeStar in its infancy. Equally, the support and association of BBC 6 Music delighted everyone involved in the festival.