A popular festival which was set to take place near Glasgow this weekend has been cancelled.

This year's Strathaven Balloon Festival at Strathaven Park has been called off.

The 'award-winning' Scots balloon event was set to take place today (Friday, August 23) and on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 in the South Lanarkshire town.

READ MORE: In Pictures: Strathaven Balloon Festival 2023

Revealing the news on social media, bosses of the festival said they were 'devastated'.

In the Facebook post, they said the organising committee has been 'working since last September' to plan this year's event - which was going to be its 25th anniversary.

However, they said due to the weather forecast predicting 'heavy rain and winds' over the weekend, they have had to axe the event over safety concerns for visitors, balloon pilots, and other guests.

In the post, the event organisers said: "Strathaven Balloon Festival - cancelled.

"The organising committee has been working since last September on plans for the 25th anniversary festival in 2024 with final arrangements being made this week ahead of the weekend.

"We have been keeping a close eye on the weather all this week in the hope that things would improve.

"However, the priority of the organisers is the safety of all visitors, pilots, stallholders, musicians, volunteers and everyone else who is involved with the committee.

"The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is heavy rain and winds that are too strong for safe flying or tethering, with low cloud cover that would stop the parachutists from jumping.

"The winds are also forecast to be at the limits for market stalls and gazebos.

"We have already had to abandon plans for one park-and-ride site leaving us with only two. Without Balloons, there is no Strathaven Balloon Festival.

"On the basis of the forecasts, and to give as much notice to everyone as possible, we met tonight and took the reluctant decision to cancel the 2024 Strathaven Balloon Festival.

"We are devastated to have had to do this and we apologise to everyone who was looking forward to a great weekend of balloons, funfair, live music and much more.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported the event, through paying for banners in the arena, making donations, buying raffles and programmes. We would like to thank our sponsors Scotmid, Fraser Tool Hire, OnPath Energy, Thistle Credit Union, Forte Engineering, Evans Halshaw, Raeburn Bricks, Wilma MaDaniels, Graham and Kath McLaren and Countrypark Catering.

"We will be contacting all sponsors and funders offering them the option of carrying their payments forward to next year’s festival as we will still have expenses and outgoings to pay irrespective of the event being cancelled.

"We will also be contacting stallholders tonight and tomorrow. We will still draw the raffle and contact winners.

"We would also like to thank all of our volunteers who give up their time to help make the festival such a success each year."

READ MORE: Ten breathtaking pictures from the Strathaven Balloon Festival

The statement continued to read: "We would also like to thank all of the performers who had generously agreed to offer their services on the main stage and the bandstand stage and to the classic car owners who came asking for the weekend.

"Thanks also to Avondale Radio for agreeing to host the Bandstand Stage.

"We look forward to next year in the hope of better weather and we can assure you that this decision has not been taken lightly. We will celebrate the 25th anniversary next year in style.

"As we said the safety of everyone involved in our unique festival is our absolute priority.

"If anyone would like a collector's item 2024 programme we are picking them up from the printers on Friday.

"We know the festival isn’t going ahead but every programme sold helps our fund for 2024 and covers the cost of printing.

"And they are filled with great articles and facts. They’ll be available from the Common Greenery shortly."