Organisers of a popular festival have pulled the plug after it became “a victim of its own success”.

The volunteer-run Biddenden Tractorfest and country fair saw 17,000 people descend on fields behind Woolpack Corner in August to see more than 250 tractors on show.

But the seventh festival was lashed by torrential rain and fields become heavily waterlogged, while visitors’ cars were marooned in mud as the car park became a quagmire, leading to vehicles being towed out by tractor.

Organisers were forced to shut the gates leading to some angry exchanges as visitors who were turned away took their disappointment out on volunteer car park stewards.

It led to organisers having to offer refunds to those who could not get in to see the show.

Tractorfest spokesman Jo Smith said that the 15-strong committee had now reluctantly decided to end the event.

“We didn’t take the decision to close Tractorfest lightly,” she said.

“We were predicting 21,000 visitors for next year’s festival and in the end it was too much..."

“Families came back year after year to see the show and from different parts of the country.

“There has been a huge amount of support for Tractorfest and people don’t want to see it go.

“It was mostly run by volunteers, with only a few paid staff who were necessary for things like security.

“We were predicting 21,000 visitors for next year’s festival and in the end it was too much.

“Tractorfest has become a victim of its own success.

“If anyone wants to step up and run Tractorfest, perhaps a professional events company, then that would be great.”

The last Tractorfest was supported by a backbone of about 120 volunteers.

The festival began in 2013 in recreation fields in Biddenden, later transferring to just outside the village to land by the road to Sissinghurst, before moving to Woolpack Corner in 2018.

It was started by Sue Boon, Tractorfest chairman, who led the team behind the Biddenden Blaze bonfire night.

It fell victim to crime in its fifth year when promotional boards and banners advertising it were mysteriously ripped down and slashed, while last year, some marquees left in the fields after the festival ended were vandalised, causing £7,000 of damage.

All profits made at Tractorfest have been ploughed back into charities, with a total of £139,000 raised for good causes in the lifetime of the event.

Beneficiaries ranged from Pilgrims Hospices and the air ambulance, to diabetic assistance dog charity Hypo Hounds and Team Ben Hammond, which raises money to screen youngsters for heart defects.

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