Marlborough's first soapbox derby has been cancelled because of a lack of entrants.

The event had been due to take place along the Grand Avenue, in Savernake Forest, on August 24, in aid of Tesco’s charity of the year.

Tesco community champion Chris Woodwood said: “When I first contacted companies in Marlborough, they were all up for it.

“Then I started getting emails through, saying they couldn’t make it, or people were on holiday.

“Everything was in place – the insurance, the caters, we’d organised a bouncy castle – and for a couple of quid it’s as cheap as chips for a fun family day out.

“I told Savernake Parish Council that we were going to have to cancel and they were disappointed because they had already built their kart.

“But if we did it with just four it wouldn’t be worth it. The whole thing would be over in ten minutes.”

As well as the two karts from Tesco, Waitrose, ATS and TH White had signed up for the race. However, all the firms have since changed their minds about participation in the event.

Mr Woodwood now plans to stage the soap box derby later in the year and is due to meet Forestry Commission representatives to see if there is another route that can be used that might prove more appealing to potential competitors.

He said: “Anyone who was building a kart should carry on, because the event will still happen. We just need ten or 12 more teams to make it viable.

“I’m looking at routes with the Forestry Commission that might be a bit more appealing, because they have more bends than the straight Grand Avenue, with more parking and better access.”