A popular festival - with big names on the bill - has been called off after festival grounds were rendered unsafe by the relentless rain brought to the UK by Storm Antoni. 

LooseFest, a popular dance festival with popular headliners like Chase & Status, Example, Sean Paul, and Craig David, was set to take place in Newcastle this weekend. 

But rain and wind means that the event, set to take place at Newcastle's Town Moor means that organisers called the event off this afternoon.   

They deemed that the festival site was "not safe to open". The expected 60,000 festival goes were "devastated". 

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Organisers made a statement announcing the event's cancellation: 
"We deeply regret to announce that despite previous weather assurances and the best efforts by our festival and site team, unfortunately for reasons beyond our control, LooseFest 2023 is cancelled this weekend. 

"We have been advised by the safety team and local authorities are in agreement that the festival site is not safe to open. 

Read more: North East Weather LIVE: Updates as events called off

"With more heavy rain due over the weekend unfortunately we have been instructed that it will be a full festival cancellation."

"We appreciate this is absolutely devastating news. The safety of you guys, our artists and crew is a priority at these shows and they cannot happen without you!

"Ticket refund updates to follow, please bare with us."