ORGANISERS of the Royal Lancashire Show were warned months in advance that their choice of site was a recipe for disaster, a local councillor claimed today.

Brian Collis, Ribble Valley councillor for Ribchester, said that Salesbury Hall Farm was the wrong site and was prone to holding water.

His comments came as show chairman Rennie Pinder stood by his decision to cancel yesterday's final day of the three- day event and vowed to continue in his post, adding: "I will not resign."

The decision to cancel was taken on Wednesday night, amid fears that heavy rainfall would have made conditions dangerous for visitors and cars on the road leading to the showground.

It followed a two-day deluge and massive traffic problems, with people in vehicles queuing for more than two hours to get onto the show field.

The show was moved from Chorley to the Ribble Valley this year in a bid to find a permanent and popular site.

Coun Collis, said: "I am bitterly disappointed for all the people involved because the Royal Lancashire Show is a wonderful thing.

"But it was just the wrong site. Choosing that site was a disaster from the off and I did tell them that as long ago as seven or eight months ago. But more people thought it would be all right than those that didn't.

"Knowing the area as I do, I knew the field they were using held water, and if it does that and you get thousands of people on it there is only going to be one end.

"I also thought the traffic was always going to be a nightmare.

"I worked out how many cars would be expected and the road was just too narrow. Plus there should have been two or three different ways on to the car park instead of one.

"I knew that if we had any significant rainfall at all that it would be a disaster, but I was just hoping that it would stay dry.

"I was hoping that I would be proved wrong and I am sorry that I was right.

"I hope that next year the show will remain in the Ribble Valley but possibly this time on a different site.

Mr Pinder said: "I don't accept there was any flooding. The land we used is very well drained land. We came down to inspect the field after there had been heavy rainfall and the secretary even walked on this site in her high heels.

"We did not take the decision to use this land lightly. We believe this land was the driest.

"But safety was our first concern -- for the general public, the trade stall holders and for the animals and we made a unanimous decision.

"I apologise unreservedly to people who missed the show, but nobody is more upset than I am.

"Whether I stay in this job is a matter for the directors of the society, but I will not resign -- that is not the sort of person I am. But I believe that the right decision was made."

When asked if there was anything that could have been done differently, Mr Pinder added: "Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I can't do anything when it decides to rain for the one week in the year.

"But I believe the future is going to be bright for the show.

"We have been going since 1767 and have been through BSE, Foot and Mouth and many more things before that."