Britain's biggest annual snowball fight postponed because 'snow was too hard'

Rain combined with plummeting temperatures saw the white stuff get too hard and icy, prompting safety fears as 300 revellers had been set to take part in the Inverurie Snowball Fight

Britain's biggest annual snowball fight had to be postponed because the snow was too hard. Hundreds of winter warriors were set to take part in the battle and lob the frozen orbs at each other.

But rain combined with plummeting temperatures saw the white stuff get too hard and icy, prompting safety fears. Organisers ended up shelving the snowy skirmish on Monday for the safety of everyone taking part.

Up to 300 revellers had been set to take part in the Inverurie Snowball Fight event in the town near Aberdeen, Scotland. Organiser Wray Thomson said: “Unfortunately because of the rain the snow has turned rock hard.

“If I make a snowball I’m struggling to get my thumb through it. It’s absolutely rock hard.”

He added he was “struggling to break through them” so it would take a child’s “head off”. "I know they’ve just cost us a fortune over Christmas but we wouldn’t want 50 kids showing up to hospital with black eyes,” he added.

“That’s the problem with weather-based activities. You have to monitor them. I wouldn’t want someone to be hurt. And it would be on my head if someone is.” He said he would be checking the weather over the coming days, adding: “If we could get a better dusting I’m sure we could do it. There’s plenty of time for more snow and better weather.”

But local Laura Leith fumed: “Can’t we just invite folk we don’t like?” Garry Cowie said: “You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t. Right decision at the right time. Last thing you want is people getting hurt for the wrong reasons.”

Kiki Sutherland said: “Quite right. Safety first. Plenty of time yet.”

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