Flooding caused by torrential rain has forced the cancellation of Oxfordshire's Truck Festival.

The event, which was due to take place at Hill Farm, Steventon, this weekend, was called off yesterday afternoon after the site was left flooded by up to a metre of water from the nearby Ginge Brook.

Up to 5,000 music lovers and hundreds more artists and volunteers were due to start arriving at the site last night.

Organisers have postponed the festival until September 22 and 23 - at the same venue.

It is the first time in the festival's 10-year history that it has been called off.

Organiser Joe Bennett, of the band Goldrush, said: "We are gutted. It's the first time we have had to do this in our history.

"But the site has been reduced to a raging torrent - up to a metre deep, and we have been left with no option.

"It is devastation here. The whole village is flooded and our car park and market stage are under water. Even if we had blazing sun all weekend - which is unlikely - there's no way we could continue."

Farmer Alan Binning, 64, who owns the site, said the rain, and flooding, was the worse he had ever seen.

Many of the artists booked to play the festival have already arrived in the county - some flying in from the USA.

Acts due to play included Garth and Maud Hudson of Bob Dylan's former backing group The Band, rock bands Idlewild and the Brian Jonestown massacre, and rapper Lethal Bizzle.

Organisers were yesterday desperately trying to contact festival-goers to inform them of the cancellation.

Truck-goers reacted with disappointment at the announcement.

Holly Reading, 21, from East Oxford, said: "I am really disappointed.

"I was going with my friends and was all ready to go.

"We knew it was going to be rubbish weather, and could have handled the rain. it's such a shame the site is flooded."

James Freeland, 28, of Cowley, said: "I'm gutted that it's been cancelled at such short notice."

Katie Hearne, 26, of Southfield Road, Oxford, said: "I can't believe it. I'm very disappointed but not surprised.

"I had taken Monday off work so that's really annoying but I will definitely be there in September.

"Damn the rain!"