Organisers have been forced to pull the plug on the popular Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally because of the recent wet weather.

The show was due to have taken place on Saturday and Sunday but organisers decided today that it could not go ahead.

They were expecting a record number of cars, tractors and steamers to be packed into two fields at Rainscombe Park in Oare this weekend.

However, organiers from the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group feared that the damage to the land of rally hosts Robert and Lady Julia Hiscox would be too great. Now in its 10th year, organisers were busy putting the finishing touches to the event.

Group secretary Jo Tilling said before the decision to call it off: “We’ve got record amounts of everything coming, including 18 steamers so it’s going to be chock-a-block.

“All the spaces over both fields have been filled; we have a First World War re-enactment, a dog agility show and ferret racing so there really is something for everyone.”

This year’s headline event was to be the Over the Top motorcycle display team.

There was also to be working section featuring steam ploughing, threshing, haymaking and cultivation.

The show was cancelled once before because of the weather, and that was in 2012.

Last year 14,000 people passed through the gates over the two-day event, more than in any previous year.

Over the last decade the rally has raised £35,000 for charity with the main benefactor being the Bobby Van Trust.