A fireworks event in Kilmarnock has been cancelled due to threats made to council staff.

East Ayrshire Leisure has confirmed that the Fawkes Festival event at Dean Castle Country Park, which had been due to take place tonight, October 31, will not go ahead. 

Chief officer Anneke Freel said: "We have a zero tolerance policy with regards to threatening/inappropriate behaviour towards all members of our tea and the risks have become too great to ignore. 

"All threats have been documented and police have been contacted. 

"Health and safety is of paramount importance to our organisation and due to the nature and number of these unauthorised access threats, we can no longer guarantee the safety of the large number of public who are due to attend the event this evening, our staff and the animals."

East Ayrshire Leisure says it is working with the event company to contact those who were due to attend, and refunds will be processed automatically. 

The first Fawkes Festival event was held on Sunday and attracted more than 4,000 people to the park.