A popular Christmas festival has been cancelled due to expected high winds.

Businesses, children and shoppers had been preparing for the St Nicholas Festival in Whitley Bay on Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5.

But North Tyneside Council has made the disappointing decision to cancel the event due to high winds forecast this weekend.

Stallholders had been expected to gather in the town centre from Friday lunchtime, with a children’s lantern parade from 4pm.

However, the stalls within St Paul’s Church, Whitley Bay, will still open on Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

And the market inside Whitley Bay Metro station, organised as part of the festival by the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade, will also go ahead as planned, on Saturday, from 11am until 3pm.

Phil Scott, head of environment, housing and leisure, said: “Although this is hugely disappointing, the safety of visitors and stallholders has to be our top priority.

“We would like to apologise to those who were looking forward to the event, and we would encourage them to have a look at our Winter Festival programme for other festive events.”

The Winter Festival programme can be found at www.visitnorthtyneside.com and events are listed in the recent addition of Our North Tyneside residents’ magazine.