THE organisers of Swindon's Big Arts Day are meeting this afternoon to decide if the event can take place.

Confusion reigned after a statement appeared today saying the event had been cancelled.

The message on a schools website belonging to Swindon Council said the waterlogged grounds at Lydiard Park were too "dangerous" to proceed.

Coun Garry Perkins was quoted as saying: "Although this is devastating for everyone involved, people's safety must take priority."

But later in the day organisers said the announcement was made in error - and insisted the show would go on, albeit with no car parking on the site.

However a message which appeared on Twitter said Saturday's event - which has involved thousands of local artists, performers, schools and musicians - could still be called off after a final decision this afternoon.

Even if it does take place, the more than 25,000 visitors expected to descend on the borough's largest free cultural event will need to cycle, walk or take buses.

The car parks have become waterlogged after the wettest June on record was followed by a damp start to this month.

A message on the festival's official Facebook page said: "Big Arts Day is going ahead and everything you've seen in the programme will still be happening.

"But we have had to make some difficult decisions because of the impact of the 'summer weather'.

"There will be no public car parking on site because the parking area is waterlogged, and all visitors are being asked to plan alternative transport, such as cycling, walking or buses, to the event.

"We really need you to help us get this message out there and make sure everyone knows that they cannot just park their cars anywhere in West Swindon - enforcement officers will be out and about.

"If we can do this we can have an amazing day and prove that Swindon does arts."

The day has become Swindon's biggest annual free festival.

This year it will feature six music stages featuring local performers, a chill out area and a children's zone.

The finale features an show called The Search for Swindon's Soul, described as an "urban circus".