A charity event for young people in south Shropshire was cancelled just hours before it was due to go ahead after last minute safety concerns were raised.

The event, featuring music and dancing, was to have been held at Bishop’s Castle Public Hall on Saturday.

It was organised by young people and the hall committee.

Shropshire’s licensing officer, Tony Mantle, received information at the last minute which led police to believe it would “not be in the public’s best interest” to let the event proceed.

Town mayor Jim Gaffney described the event as a “rave” and said it should have gone ahead as it had been well organised by “responsible” young people.

He said: “It was for the community and for charity and to cancel it in the last few hours is not right.

“Things very rarely go wrong and if they do the young people are in a place where we can help them and quickly.

“Now they will just just have their parties out in the woods where we won’t be able to help if something goes wrong.

“On Saturday night there were loads of problems in the town, which isn’t the norm. There was fighting and windows being broken. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened if an organised event had gone on.”

Police spokesman Richard Ewels said officers were told of the event on April 7 but later received fresh information about safety concerns.

Mr Mantle said: “I brought this information to the attention of the Bishop’s Castle Public Hall Committee who decided to refuse the booking and withdraw permission for the event. I believe the committee took the correct action in light of the information received.”

Shropshire councillor Heather Kidd said several people lost a lot of money as the cancellation was so late.