A POPULAR music festival in Chipping Sodbury has been cancelled, it has been announced.

The Sodbury Jazz and Blues Festival, which began in 2011, will not take place next year.

Organisers Stuart Hobday, an ex-radio producer, and Mark Lloyd, of Rounceval House Hotel, have not given a reason why the three-day festival, which has previously seen big names in jazz perform in the town, has ended.

A post on the festival’s website, by Mr Hobday, said: “In answer to the people who keep stopping me and saying ‘I've heard a rumour’, yes, it's true. The Sodbury Jazz and Blues Festival has come to and end.

“I know that a lot of people gained a great deal of pleasure from the festival and other concerts and I, for one, will miss bringing live music to the town. Unfortunately, that will not now happen.

“Enormous thanks go out to all those who supported the events over the past five years.”

The festival, normally held in the first weekend in June, saw various venues including pubs, cafes and the Waitrose supermarket play host to jazz musicians as well as headline acts including Kenny Ball, Digby Fairweather and Acker Bilk play at the town hall. Performances had attracted music fans from across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

Mr Lloyd declined to comment further on the ending of the festival.