ORGANISERS of a major music festival have announced it will not be returning this year.

Wild Life has been held at Shoreham Airport for the past three years.

It attracts about 30,000 music lovers and top names have included Fatboy Slim from Hove and Rag ‘N’ Bone Man from Uckfield.

The event has been hailed a success although residents near the airport have complained about the disruption it has caused.

A statement issued by the airport says key organisers and performers Disclosure and Rudimental are recording new albums and so are unable to do the festival in 2018.

It said: “It has proven a fantastic success and working with the event organiser SJM Concert over the last three years has been an absolute pleasure.

“We hope Disclosure and Rudimental bring the event back in 2019 but in the meantime we’d like to formally thank everyone for being part of the event.

“The concert was the first of its kind for a licensed airport and it has enabled us to reach out to a completely new audience.

“Wild Life’s successful launch was brought about by a great team effort and we are grateful to our airport team, the organisers, the council, airport businesses and local community for giving the event the opportunity it deserved.”

Airport managing director Jonathan Candelon said: “It is sad to hear we will not be having the biggest and best party in town on our back garden this year but hopefully we will the year after.

“Thank you to all of you who have supported us because without you it could not have happened.”

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin welcomed the news.

He said: “I think the majority of the residents of Adur will be pleased with the break as well.

“While it has brought thousands of people into the area which brings benefits to the local economy, it has also caused disruption to residents in Lancing, Shoreham and Southwick too.”

In a message on Facebook, the band Disclosure said: “We embarked on a new journey three years ago by launching the Wild Life festival with our close friends Rudimental.

“That inaugural year of the festival in 2015 allowed us to embark on our next chapter with the release of our second album, Caracal.

“However, with a busy recording schedule ahead as we embark on album number three, we’re going to give the green grass of Shoreham Airport a break.We will come back bigger and better in 2019.”