ORGANISERS of a major open-air charity show have had to move the venue and scrap a planned air display after authorities raised safety concerns.

The last-minute hitch means next weekend's Wiltshire County Show will be held outside Wiltshire, at Frome Cheeseshow's West Woodlands site, instead of the Corsley showfield near Warminster.

Around 400 posters promoting the two-day event on May 11 and 12 are having to be changed by the team at the Warminster-based Imperial Charity organisation behind the show.

David McCance, who has arranged the annual event since 1997, said: "We have been told the site at Corsley is unsuitable for safety reasons to have any show there."

Members of the west Wiltshire public events safety group, made up of local councils, emergency services and NHS trusts, raised several concerns about planning for the show, although it does not have the power to ban any event.

Chief Insp Nick Maslen, who represents Wiltshire police on the group, said: "There were concerns about the whole approach to safety, in particular safety access, road safety, vehicle access and a lack of information. It was felt the site was unsuitable for this event.

"We wrote to the organisers inviting their thoughts on our concerns. They did not react to that letter but have moved site."

Mr McCance said: "It's a headache we could have done without but the Frome Cheeseshow have stepped in at the 11th hour and let us use their site. They have saved the show and the charity."

A team of skydivers will still perform and Mr McClance said other ground-based attractions have been added, but he admitted the lack of an air display would probably hit attendance.