The Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool has been cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Despite attracting over 100,000 visitors over the three day August Bank Holiday in 2006, organisers have decided to pull the event due to health and safety reasons.

It’s thought that the decision has been based on the fact that much of Liverpool City Centre has been transformed into a building site in the lead up to the Capital of Culture in 2008. A vast area of Pier Head has also been deemed off bounds for the festival.

Jason Harborow, chief executive of the Liverpool Culture Company, said in a statement: “In many ways, the Mathew Street Festival has become a victim of its own success this year. The huge growth in the popularity of the festival, combined with the loss of the Pier Head, presented us with a massive problem.

“The advice relates specifically to the unique conditions surrounding the staging of the Mathew Street Festival this year, and does not affect the city’s ability to stage other large-scale events.”

The news comes as a huge blow for the city, which is currently celebrating its 800th year.