A popular Black music festival set to take place in Gloucester this summer has been cancelled.

The Kings Jam Festival, which is produced and run by The Music Works charity, was due to have taken place in Gloucester Park.

However, a statement on the Kings Jam website said: "We are sad to announce that we will not be running Kings Jam Festival in 2023. This decision is following major funding setbacks at The Music Works.

"As a charity we are committed to delivering a high quality, fully inclusive and accessible music festival for the local community, and to be able to do that requires considerable investment that we were not able to secure this year.

"We ask that people see this year's absence on the festival circuit as a pause rather than a closure as we hope that Kings Jam will be back next year showcasing the very best in contemporary Black music and platforming the next generation of exciting and emerging talent.

"We will be consulting with the community, Gloucester council and funders across 2023 to ensure that Kings Jam 2024 is able to best deliver on these aims."

Malaki Patterson, artistic director, The Music Works, said: "It has been hugely hard and disappointing for us to have to announce we are unable to run Kings Jam Festival this year. We know the importance and impact the festival has had in the local community, and the support that it has built over the past five years.

"We look forward to the continued support from our local community which is essential for its success. We plan to return in 2024 and will use this time to work with the community, Gloucester council and our funders to explore how we can create a sustainable festival that continues to provide progression opportunities for young people who are accessing the creative industries."