This year's Womad festival has been cancelled following a meeting with the Licensing Authority. 

The event was due to take place from July 23 to July 26 at Charlton Park. 

Womad founder Peter Gabriel said: "Like many others, we have been hoping, waiting and watching the Coronavirus situation. 

"Finally, we have been told that we will not be allowed to hold Womad this year at Charlton Park.  Safety for all of our festivalgoers, artists and our own staff surpasses everything.

"All of us involved with Womad have already been really touched by the help and generous offers of many of those we depend on to make the festival come to life.

"Many of the artists have already offered, or agreed, to play for us next year and we will now put our energies into making a great Womad 2021. We hope to see you all at Charlton Park next year for a big celebration when we’ve put this meanie back in the bottle.

"Your love and support for the dream that is WOMAD, has always meant a lot to us, but especially now. Thank you and stay safe”

People who bought tickets will be able to use them for next year or are entitled to a full refund.

Festival director Chris Smith added: "We are all experiencing extraordinary and worrying times - for our families, our friends and our communities but the message that we must remember is that the world is united right now, and we must pull together and show respect to each other.

"This is what Womad has always been about, and it’s more pertinent than ever now.

"Nothing matters more than our responsibility to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the Womad community and through that the wider community in which we live.

"We must support our emergency services, our neighbours and do all that we can to prevent the spread of this virus.

"We are devastated to announce that we are unable to proceed with this year’s festival, but comfortable that this is the only responsible decision that we could make to play our part in helping the country to recover.

"We are grateful for your support and understanding.”