A POPULAR Pembrokeshire festival which attracted thousands of people to the north of the county has been cancelled amid financial fears that it would not be economically viable.

The Really Wild Festival, was set to return to Oriel y Parc, St Davids, this spring.

However it was announced this morning (Wednesday) that the multi award-winning event will not go ahead as planned in May due to lack of confirmed stall holders.

The festival was set up by Julia Horton-Powdrill in 2004 to provide a market place for local food and drink producers and traditional craftsmen.

It was held initially at Oriel y Parc but expanded every year and and was held at different venues throughout the county.

As the activities, attractions and the environmental education side developed, it rapidly outgrew each new site.

After a break in 2014 the festival was held at Celtic Camping, just outside St Davids, for two years.

In 2016 just under 5,000 visitors attended the festival and it won the 2016 Best Event award from Pembrokeshire Tourism.

After a two-year absence the popular event was due to return to its original setting of Oriel y Parc, St Davids, over the spring bank holiday weekend this May.

The event would have been free to enter this year and its administration had been taken over by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, through Oriel y Parc.

Bookings for stalls closed on Monday, April 1, with many producers already confirmed including Eccentric Gin, Farmers Food at Home, Blas at Twr y Felin, Fresh West Silver and Toloja Orchards.

However a statement issued by the park said that there were not enough stall holders booked to make the event a financial success.

An announcement issued by Oriel y Parc on Wednesday morning read: "Due to unforeseen circumstances the Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival scheduled for 25 and 26 May 2019 has been postponed, with a plan to run this event during 2020.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience and all stall fees will be refunded as soon as possible."

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority subsequently told the Western Telegraph: “The event has been cancelled as it would not have been economically viable given the number of confirmed stallholders. We hope to be able to hold the event sometime next year.”