It is with great regret that the organisers of the annual HMS Collingwood Open Day have had to take the decision to cancel the event scheduled to take place on Saturday 26 May 2012.

Following the wettest April on record the event car parks and some of the onsite locations are waterlogged and would be a hazard to the public.

This annual event which normally attracts up to 6,000 people usually takes pride of place in the establishment’s calendar, and this year was no exception with a vast array of attractions arranged in addition to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Field Gun Competition.

Unfortunately though one thing could not be booked and guaranteed – the weather!

Open Day Officer Lieutenant Commander Philippa Sargent said “We at HMS Collingwood are all hugely disappointed that this decision has had to be made.

"The area we normally use for our car parking is like a quagmire as are some of the areas on site used for attractions.

"The health and safety of our visitors is of paramount importance and regrettably the weather has created too much of a hazard.

"A great deal of work has already taken place to make this the exceptional day for the local community that it normally is and we can only apologise to all our supporters and hope that they come and join us again next year.”

For those of you interested in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Field Gun Competition this is still going ahead as an internal sporting competition, the results of which will be promulgated on the Royal Navy website in due course.

If you have already bought your advance ticket please contact the Press Officer on 01329 332312 as refunds will be given.