RESCUE organisations in Craven were dealt a bitter blow when continuing heavy rain forced the cancellation of Broughton Game Show on Sunday.

It is only the second time in the event's 27-year history that the show has been cancelled, the last time being during the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic.

Organisers decided early on Friday that the land was too waterlogged, and made the brave decision to pull the plug for this year.

It is the main fundraising event for Craven's two rescue organisations - the Cave Rescue Organisation at Clapham and the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association at Grassington.

Chairman of the Game Show Committee, David Aynesworth, said the decision to cancel had been difficult.

But he added: "When we had a look around at 9.30am on Friday it was clear that the land was absolutely saturated and wouldn't be able to take vehicles.

"The fields which would be the car parking areas were flooded and even light vehicles trying to set up stands were getting stuck.

"It has cost a significant amount to cancel, but we do have a sinking fund that acts as a cushion which we add to each year for such an eventuality.

"But it will be the main benefactors, such as the Cave Rescue and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue organisations who will lose out, as well as all the charity-run stands which would have been here."

The cancellation is a bitter blow to the two rescue organisations, which together stand to lose between £15,000 and £18,000.

The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) was hoping to raise money for a planned extension to its headquarters.

Steve Finch, CRO member and communications officer, said everyone was disappointed.

"We have recently been granted permission to extend the building next door to the New Inn, in Clapham, and had just started a fundraising campaign to raise £100,000.

"We were hoping the money we raised at Broughton would allow us to get funding from other areas. We have just applied to the Aggregates Levy for a grant of £30,000," he said.

"The CRO has been going since 1935 and relies on donations and bequests to run. It costs around £30,000 a year to remain static because it is so much bigger now with more IT equipment," added Mr Finch.

"With losing out at Broughton, we could be put back 18 months or two years in our plans, unless someone is willing to come forward and offer sponsorship.

"We believe that the £7,000 we would have got at the Broughton show would have just about brought in the £100,000 we need to extend the depot with matched funding."

The CRO is also looking at setting up its own Friends Committee, made up of current members, to look at fundraising.

Chris Baker, of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and a member of the Game Show Committee, said the show accounted for around a third of the annual running costs of the group - much the same as the CRO.

"It is a disappointment, but is one of those things that happen. It is too late to try to organise any other events. In any case, these sort of events take a lot of time and it is late in the year now.

"We will just have to dip into our reserves and wait for next year," he said.

Despite a huge amount of work trying to notify the public of the cancellation, around 1,500 visitors arrived at the showground. They were able to watch the clay pigeon shoot and sheepdog trials, which did go ahead.