A planned three-day festival of American country music organised by broadcasting legend Bob Harris, has been abandoned due to mounting costs and poor ticket sales.

The veteran radio presenter, from Steventon, near Didcot, had hoped to make the Under The Apple Tree Festival an annual event. The Old Grey Whistle Test legend, 69, had told the Oxford Mail that he hoped the family-run festival would be a lasting legacy of his work in promoting country and roots music.

However, the event, due to have taken place at Silverstone on the May Bank Holiday, with sets by New Yorker Gretchen Peters, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter and pop band Squeeze, has been scrapped, and replaced with a series of one-day concerts in London.

He said: "It is with a heavy heart I announce that we are unable to hold our festival. The staging of this event was an ambition of a lifetime for me and we have done everything in our power to make it happen during many months of work.

"We have reluctantly come to realise that due to the mounting logistical costs that have become apparent, ticket sales have not kept up with these costs. We have no choice but to tell you that this event will no longer be taking place this year.

"However, my desire to hold a major music event remains undimmed and an alternative plan is now in place."

He will instead host a series of "Festivals in a Day" at Cadogan Hall in London, featuring as many of the artists that were due to perform over the May Bank Holiday. The first, to take place on September 10, will feature a concert celebrating his 70th birthday.

He added: "My sincere thanks and appreciation goes to all the artists and ticket holders whose loyalty and faith has been heart warming."

Existing festival ticket holders will receive a refund in full. Artist line-up and tickets will be announced and on sale shortly.