Dorset was all set to have its first ever hot air balloon festival, but the event has failed to get off the ground after organisers pulled the plug just weeks after ticket sales opened.

The Dorset Hot Air Balloon Festival started advertising its launch on social media with the promise of hot air balloons, monster trucks, a fun fair and local food and drink vendors at Dorchester Showground next summer.

Camping for the festival was also available at a cost of £50 with a weekend tickets costing £13 in the events second round of sales after 1500 were snapped according to the events organisers on social media.

However, concern over the event started to pick up up pace online that it may be a scam and these rumours seem to have been enough for the organisers to pull the plug due to the concerns. 

A statement posted on social media by the organisers, said: "It comes with deep regret that this event has now been cancelled.

"We are very sorry to say, that after we have faced too much criticism, about this event being fake and people reporting to the land owner of the venue about us, he has decided he would no longer like to host us.

"This gives us no option, but to cancel this event.

"The team behind this event are however hosting two others similar to this one at Wales Balloon Festival and The Devonshire Balloon & Music Festival, so please follow us there if you wish.

"We are truly gutted, and our apologies go out to all people who purchased tickets already. Refunds shall be sent out to you within 7 days.

"This really does come as a great shame, and we will continue to work hard to look for a new venue with a possible change of dates.

The Echo had reached out the organisers of the event when the concerns of the festival's legitimacy came to light. 

We raised concerns about the scammers that appeared to be actively infiltrating their own social media page, the fact that no communication about the event had been made with Dorset Council and clarification on the company running the event.

In response to those queries, a spokesperson via the only email address associated with the event, said: "The internet can be an amazing thing, and sadly there are also some down falls in which a site had cloned our page and made lots of comments which looked like we were asking for card details which would never be the case.

"There were also lots of comments from ‘people’ saying they were selling tickets."

Due to our concerns about the event still remaining, another email was sent but no reply has been forthcoming. 

Upon contacting a different individual who was providing some of the entertainment for the festival, they said that Dorset Council had now been made aware of the event and that a plan would be submitted 'shortly' to them. 

This contacted said they would pass on our concerns to the organisers and they would be in touch shortly - but with the event now cancelled we do not expect to hear from them.

The council was also asked to confirm that they had been made aware of the event prior to the cancellation but no a reply has yet to be received.