THOUSANDS of people will be left disappointed following the news the much-anticipated Nigerian Carnival has been cancelled the day before the event.

The two-day extravaganza of Nigerian music, food and fashion, was expected to draw crowds of up to 5,000 people to Finsbury Park including families coming together to celebrate and learn about their culture.

But in the final hour, carnival organisers admitted to Haringey Council they were unable to meet health and safety requirements stipulated in their event licence including no production company as part of management, and not enough security staff.

The council said it had "no choice" but to withdraw the licence in the interest of public safety.

The event which cost £70,000 to host has now been cancelled.

A note on their website, in the green and white Nigerian colours, reads: "Due to unforseen circumstances the Nigerian Carnival UK has been postponed until further notice."

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "We have been left with no alternative.

"Public safety is an absolute priority and organisers had failed to meet conditions set out in the licence so that arrangements were in place to ensure people were safe."

Ms Canver added: "This decision does not prevent future applications – should organisers wish to put forward a proposal for next year which includes safety measures."

Organiser Kashif Jones-Lagunda must now take on the unenviable task of breaking the bad news to people.

Caterers who have rented stalls will also be left fuming by the decision.

Carnival organisers have also been instructed to ensure staff are based at Finsbury Park over the weekend to turn away crowds.

Council licensing officers will also be present.

Event organisers said they had handpicked Finsbury Park, in Haringey, because of the flourishing Nigerian communities in north London.

The carnival was first held in 2007 when 20,000 people partied in Burgess Park, Southwark, but was cancelled at short notice in 2008 after complaints from neighbours.

The 2009 event in Finsbury Park was postponed due to funding problems.