FOOTBALL fans will be left disappointed after a planned big screen for England's World Cup semi-final clash has been cancelled over "safety concerns".

The event to show the team's World Cup match against Croatia, organised by Love Andover and Andover Radio, was due to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Vigo Park but after talks with Hampshire police it was feared that the size of the event would be "impossible to manage", with over 5,000 people anticipated.

Bosses at the town's radio station have said that the safety concerns raised are "paramount" and have decided to cancel the much-anticipated event.

A station spokesman said: "We are being contacted by over a hundred people an hour asking for information about the event, and hour-by-hour this increases our crowd safety concerns.

"We feel that given the short space of time we have had to plan for this, we would be insufficiently equipped to ensure a secure and safe environment for all.

"A lack of security and police who are deployed elsewhere is a significant concern.

"We stated throughout the planning process that we are taking every single comment into account and now feel that this is the right decision."

The spokesman added: "Whereas the potential still exists for a relaxed, fun environment we cannot rule out the potential of there being an aggressive or uncomfortable atmosphere. Even bad language alone would be enough for the event to be ruined for many.

"As such, we are devastated to take this very difficult decision to cancel the event."

Andover Radio took on the challenge to provide a large screen football event after calls were made on social media by local man Adam North to arrange such an event.

Despite the cancellation, the radio station has thanked SBAT.com and Test Valley Borough Council for their support.

But, the station has not ruled out econsidering if it can show the World Cup final at another location.