One of the county's biggest events, the Gloucester Quays Food Festival, won't go-ahead this summer because of a major improvement scheme.

The long-awaiting £400,000 transformation of the city's Orchard Square into a public realm and events space will start next month.

But this means the Gloucester Quays Food Festival which usually attracts around 150,000 visitors in July has had to be cancelled. The popular Gloucester Quays Beach Weekender on August Bank Holiday has also been called off.

The work on Orchard Square will include including special surfacing, high column lighting, fixed timber benches and increased security so the space can be enjoyed day and night. The work can only be carried out during the summer months.

Following the opening of Gloucester Waterways Museum on 5th May, the works will also improve the loading capacity for vehicles delivering to the centre and nearby attractions such as The Tank and Lord High Constable of England.

The work is expected to be completed by this September.

The summer events programme for which Gloucester Quays and Docks is becoming renowned for, will be reprogrammed in 2019.

Jason Pullen, managing director of Lifestyle Outlets, which operates Gloucester Quays, said: "The improvements taking place at Orchard Square will enhance the visitor experience to Gloucester Quays and the Docks. Our successful strategy of creating vibrant destinations where people want to spend their time is at the heart of everything we do."

Gloucester Quays says its defying the national retail trend with "soaring sales and new store openings". The company has reported a 15 percent increase in sales, in contrast to slowing high street sales, which rose by only 0.6 percent according to the British Retail Consortium.