Bikes show considering court action

Organisers of a Powys motorcycle show are considering legal action after it was cancelled on police advice.

The Welsh International Motorcycle Show was to take place from May 23 to 26 at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

But The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which runs the showground, and Dyfed-Powys Police this week cancelled the event, saying there was a "serious risk of violence".

Steve Bennett, of organiser Welsh Motorcycle Shows, said the decision had been made "for reasons known only to the police and the committee of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society."

In a statement, he said: "WMS apologises for any inconvenience caused to our customers and traders by the cancellation of the event.

"We ask we be allowed time to consider the legal and financial implications of the cancellation."

Fears were raised of violence between rival gangs after trouble at similar events. Police also denied they planned to shut pubs in Builth Wells on the bank holiday weekend, amid fears hundreds of bikers could still come to the area.

Chris Robinson, of the White Hart in Builth Wells, said he had heard of plans for pubs to close, as an influx of bikers was still expected.

He said: "I doubled my stock of beer for the weekend because we usually do a roaring trade and it looks like it will all go to waste. I will look into claiming compensation."

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware that on some internet sites, people are saying they could come down to the area for the weekend anyway, but at the moment we are unaware of plans to shut the town's pubs."