Braintree is losing one of its major attractions, the annual International Custom Car Show, because of roadworks disruption.

Organisers of the popular August Bank Holiday weekend event have decided to pull out because work on the A131 Great Leighs by-Pass has cut the capacity of the showground.

It follows the postponement of the Essex Show this year for the same reason.

Neil Meredith, chairman of the National Association of Street Clubs which has organised the car show at Great Leighs for the last 11 years, said around 5,000 enthusiasts, plus 2,500 specialist pre-1975 modified cars and many spectators were expected.

''The showground has not got the capacity for this type of crowd, " he said. "The bypass has chopped a big lump off the ground, it's lost about 12 acres."

He said the organisation "could not take a chance" and had decided to shift the venue to Hertfordshire.

Manager of the George Yard shopping centre in Braintree, Derek Salmon, said: ''NASC have brought a very different attraction to Braintree town centre on the Bank Holiday Weekend.

"The sight and sound of hot rods from all over Europe moving through the High Street created much interest and brought business to traders."

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