A DRAGON Boat regatta due to take part on the River Severn in Worcester today has been cancelled.

Organisers of Race the Dragon 2007 decided to postpone the event at the last minute on safety grounds.

Although the weather has improved, the torrential rain and thunderstorms experienced across the county in the last few days caused the River Severn's water to rise to a level unsuitable for rowing.

About 600 people from across the country were expected to turn up for the event, and it is thought the cancellation has costs organisers several hundred pounds.

However, Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club chairman Nigel Leigh said he was not worried about the money.

"It's nothing we cannot offset and it's nothing compared to the risk of running the event," he said. "There was just no sense in it."

Mr Leigh said it became clear the event would not go ahead when he saw the conditions on Saturday.

"It was kind of quite obvious by mid afternoon it wasn't going to get any better and had the potential to get worse," he said.

"It's the first time in 17 years we have been running the event that it has ever been affected in this way."

Mr Leigh said it took him about three and half hours to contact more than 20 crews planning on taking part in the event, and added it was a difficult decision to make.

"In the end, it is safety that's paramount," he said.

Mr Leigh said the event will now take place on Sunday, August 5.