A fireworks display which had been postponed until this week has now been cancelled altogether after persistent heavy rain waterlogged the site.

Grove Rugby Club's event will not go ahead this Friday (November 17) as the recreation ground is “badly flooded again”.

The event was originally scheduled for November 4 but it was pushed back to this Friday.

But the ongoing wet weather has meant the event will now not go ahead at all this year. 

Staff at the rugby club have made efforts to remove the water from the site over the last two weeks.

READ MORE: Householder baffled bins taken away for 'being too big'

A spokesman for the club said: “We have been working with Persimmon Homes since last week to have a pump fitted to remove the standing water and also to try and divert the water flowing onto the recreation ground from the road and airfield development.

“It appears that all the new run off drainage is overwhelming our existing drainage that it has been connected into, and even when there is no rain, the water continues to flow out of a drain cover near the training ground and then runs down to the clubhouse and onto Cane Lane.

“Due to the current flooding issues unfortunately we have no option but to cancel this year’s event.

Oxford Mail:

“We have had the pleasure of running this event for the community for over 40 years and developing the display into one of the biggest and most spectacular in the area.

“Other than lockdown this will be the first ever event cancelled over that period.

The amateur club relies heavily on fund raising events like the fireworks display, and the spokesperson said this will have a “major impact” on the club going forwards.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1