A MAJOR equestrian event planned for early spring in the grounds of a North-East castle was called off today because of the wet winter weather.

Organisers have cancelled Witton Castle Horse Trials, in County Durham, due to take place on March 28 and 29.

They said fields had failed to recover from a previous event in October, when the second day of competition was abandoned.

On the first day, the Saturday, tractors were called in to pull horseboxes out of deep mud. leaving deep gouges scarring the grass in the parking area.

Co-organiser Douglas Weymouth expects the autumn event scheduled for October 3 and 4 to go ahead as planned.

He said last night: "A significant number of areas around the cross country course and the horse box park need more time to recover following the event last October.

"The owners of the estate are fully supportive of our decision and look forward to the horse trials returning in the autumn."

Iain Graham, British Eventing regional director, who visited the site, added: "It is very unfortunate for competitors to lose such an important early fixture, but the ground needs adequate time to recover and there is no suitable alternative date available."