Organisers of this year?s Devon Youth Games, due to be held in Okehampton on Saturday (June 30), have reluctantly decided to postpone the event, following an inspection of pitches and the forecast of further heavy rain over the next few days. More than 1,000 young people from local authority areas across the county were due to take part in the the games ? the biggest junior sporting event of the year in Devon. But bad weather over the last few days has meant that the pitches are too wet to be prepared and marked up for the different sporting activities. Further forecast advice has also been sought from the Met Office who have told the organising team that heavy rain is predicted for the area on Thursday night, Friday night and on Saturday, the day of the event. The games were to be hosted this year by West Devon Borough Council, in Okehampton?s Simmons Park, using facilities at Okehampton College, Parklands Leisure Centre, Okehampton Tennis Courts and the Astroturf pitch. The event is being sponsored by Devon County Council and DML. West Devon mayor Cllr Dennis Bater said: ?It ?s such a pity that the weather has beaten us here but it has been so unseasonal and exceptionally wet that there really was no other choice left open to us. ?So many people have put so much hard work into this event and we are hoping that we can reorganise it for the autumn.? Tammy Messenger, West Devon Borough Council?s sports development officer, who has led the organisation for this year?s games, said: ?We know more than anyone that there will be many disappointed children in Devon today.

?The organising team will be meeting over the next few weeks and we will do everything we can to finalise another date for the games and will keep everyone fully informed.?