MYSTERY surrounds the cancellation of a festival that was due to take place in Heaton Park.

The Holi One event, at which thousands of revellers dance to music and throw coloured powder at each other, was scheduled to take place on Saturday but organisers cancelled it with four days to spare.

Event planners blamed "technical reasons" for the cancellation but would not elaborate when The Guide asked for more information.

The festival is loosely based on a Hindu tradition called Holi, where, once a year, Hindus go out onto the street and smear each other with brightly coloured powder and dance to music.

The Holi One events take that practise and set it when a music arena with stages, DJs and alcohol.

Holi One events have been staged in Heaton Park for the last two years, drawing in more than 3,000 revellers on each occasion.

The most recent one organised by the same company was in Wembley Park, London, on August 8, though others in Glasgow, Liverpool and Dublin were also cancelled.

On Facebook, the organisers said: "Unfortunately, we have to inform you, that we just had to cancel Manchester Holi One 2015 due to technical reasons.

"All ticket buyers will get a refund as soon as possible and all competition winners are welcome to get in touch with our Facebook team to get tickets for a different event. Apologies for the inconveniences."

The news was met with fury by people who were planning to attend.

On Facebook, Gemma Sweeney said: "I went to this last year and it was an amazing event.

"It was a good laugh with friends and good to meet new people. I'm absolutely gutted it's been cancelled this year."

Sophie Foreman, a student, of Bury, said: "I'm fuming at this. I was meant to go.

"They have broken this news four days before the event and not actually said why they have cancelled."