A MUCH-HYPED water fight due to take place in an Essex town today has been cancelled at the eleventh hour after council bosses intervened.

James Hore

A MUCH-HYPED water fight due to take place in an Essex town today has been cancelled at the eleventh hour after council bosses intervened.

Hundreds of thrill-seeking youngsters were set to descend on the genteel coastal resort of Frinton for the event on the picturesque Greensward.

It had been organised by student Alex Nelson and attracted the interest of more than 400 members on the social networking website Facebook.

However, the 18-year-old said the event has now been cancelled, explaining Tendring District Council had warned him the event would need to be licensed.

The Facebook site has been inundated with frustrated revellers angry at the council.

An air horn had been due to sound the start of the fight at noon and several rules were made in a bid to prevent it getting out of hand.

They included instructions for participants to pick up any litter and to avoid getting other people wet - especially elderly people and police officers. Other rules included “do not damage anything (or anyone)”.

A spokesman for Tendring District Council said: “The organiser was advised that no consent had been given and that the use of Frinton greensward for the water fight was a contravention of the recreation ground byelaws.

“He was advised that should he go ahead and there were issues - such as nuisance to others using the area, damage to plants, shrubs, trees or property, or litter left on the greensward - the police would be entitled to take action under those byelaws.

“It was the organiser's own decision to cancel the event.”

He added the council did not want to be “killjoys” but had a responsibility to think of others who may be using the greensward area.

“It would have been much better if the organiser had come to the council in the first place, discussed his plans and we may have been able to suggest a more appropriate venue where it could be contained and have less impact on others.”

Sgt John Scott, of Essex Police, said: “The event has been cancelled so please do not show up for it. There will still be police patrolling the area and if any disorderly conduct breaks out we will be taking action.”