SWINDON'S biggest primary school football festival was abandoned on Sunday at the end of the group stages.

Driving wind and rain at the Rec in Highworth saw organisers at the Westrop School Football Tournament call it quits shortly after noon on Saturday.

The sixth annual Samuel Miles-sponsored event attracted 45 teams and was split into two categories years 3/4 and years 5/6.

The years 3/4 event ran on a fair play basis where the referees were awarding points out of 10 to each team for their sporting behaviour.

St Mary's School Purton received the highest marks overall to take the trophy and every child in the section took home a medal.

The years 5/6 competition failed to reach a conclusion before the abandonment but, as the group stages were completed, will reschedule the final phase for a later date.

Event co-ordinator Mark Collett said: "I've never seen anything like it.

"The pitches were becoming unplayable.

"The rain started to fall about half an hour before we were due to start and despite the good nature of the participants and parents, it became impossible to continue.

"We took the decision to continue until the first round had finished.

"We then got all the managers together and asked them whether they would like to continue or go home and we decided to call it a day.

"We had to think of the players interests, many of them were frozen and were standing around in wet clothes with hardly any shelter to protect them from the elements.

"So it was decided we would stop and invite the schools that have qualified for round two back at a later date."

The second phase is now set to take place in the summer with Shrivenham, Catherine Wayte B, Even Swindon B, Noremarsh A, Purton A, Ruskin A, Northview A, Goddard Park B, St Mary's, Grange, Blunsdon, Goddard Park A, Catherine Wayte A, Sevenfields, Liden A and Cricklade the 16 qualifiers.

Collett added: "The year 5/6 tournament will be rescheduled for the nearest available date but due to all the schools preparing for year 6 exams it will probably not happen until June or July.

"I'd like to thank Highworth Junior football club, who let us use their brand new facilities despite only having used them themselves for the first time last week, and everybody else who gave a helping hand."