HELENSBURGH’S eagerly-awaited Stand Up To Cancer family festival on Sunday was cancelled after bad weather caused “unbelievable devastation” at the event venue.

Event organiser Alison Sturgeon, assistant manager at the town’s Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shop, said she received a phone call at 3.30am on Sunday telling her that tents put up to host the festival at Helensburgh Rugby Club’s Ardencaple grounds had been blown away by high winds.

Alison said she decided to cancel the festival shortly after visiting the site to see the damage for herself.

A smaller scale event, featuring live music, the Drakes of Hazzard dog and duck show, a raffle and cake sales, did take place at the Ardencaple clubhouse and saw around 90 people raise some £500 for the campaign.

Alison said: “My husband and I raced along at 4am but there was little we could do. The fabric of the tents were sticking out of trees, huge holes had been ripped in them and poles scattered like toothpicks.

“I thought I was having a bad dream. Then, to make matters even worse, we saw that the goal posts were badly damaged and flattened to the ground. The devastation caused was unbelievable.

“Moderate winds had been forecast but the storm came from nowhere and destroyed our dreams.

“While volunteers descended to pick up the pieces , I cancelled the dozens of stall holders, performers and suppliers that were meant to be arriving a few hours later.

“My shop manager Mark Cavana, who is bassist in one of our bands, Hot Ratz, decided that the music part of the festival should carry on regardless.

“Two of the bands couldn’t be rebooked at short notice but Louis Page and Hot Ratz performed their set inside the clubhouse. The Drakes of a Hazzard Sheepdog Display, did a show in the paddock outside.

“We would like to thank everyone who supported us, such a lot of people went to so much trouble. We are so sorry to have to cancel but there was no option at such short notice.”

Despite Sunday’s cancellation, there are further Stand Up To Cancer fund-raising events planned in the Burgh for the coming weeks, including an ‘ABBA Ladies’ Night’ at the Commodore Hotel on September 29 and the annual ‘spooktacular’ bake sale at the CRUK shop on October 26.

You can also donate by visiting the CRUK shop at 2 Sinclair Street.