Durban Top Gear Festival cancelled

The annual Top Gear festival that was due to be held in Durban will now be held in Johannesburg, event organisers announced on Monday.

In a brief statement, James Cooke-Priest, chief operations officer of Top Gear Live, said: "South Africa has always been one of our favourite destinations on the tour. We have a particular fondness for the crowds we entertain here, as they are always so loud and enthusiastic and return year after year to support us.

"Although we will not be in Durban this year we are taking steps to stage an alternative Top Gear Live event in Johannesburg and we shall be announcing those plans shortly".

The Top Gear event featuring Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May has been a hit in the city with fans of the popular BBC having descended on Durban for a number of years to attend the event.

It is not known why the event was moved from Durban at such short notice.