FUMING tourism chiefs are demanding to know why they were not told that last night's Weymouth firework display had been postponed.

Thousands of people regularly fill the resort on Monday nights during the summer to watch displays, but Weymouth and Portland Borough Council bosses were forced to call off last night's event after receiving reports that the weather was going to be too bad.

Event organisers said they moved as quickly as possible to inform people that the display was off.

But Alan Davis, chief executive of the World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association today demanded to know why his members were not told.

"I have had more than 40 hoteliers on the phone going berserk and demanding to know why the fireworks were cancelled because of bad weather when Weymouth Bay was a millpond last night and why we weren't informed.

"I am particularly concerned about the 27 inland members who have been promoting the event and sent their customers down to watch the display, only for them to come back and say that it was off.

"If we had been told that the event was off then we could have emailed all our members to let them know and let their customers know. We could have done it in ten minutes and then we wouldn't have had all this upset.

"This has not done the reputation of Weymouth any good at all," said Mr Davis.

One person who went down to watch the display said: "We had been looking forward to watching the display. We didn't know it had been called off until we got down to the Esplanade. We are very disappointed."

Steve Davies, who organises the Monday night festivities on behalf of the borough council, said early indications yesterday were that the weather was going to be too bad for the display and the decision was taken to call it off on health and safety grounds.

"They were cancelled because we had been told that there were going to be very adverse weather conditions last night.

"The decision has to be made as early as possible and following consultation with the Met Office and coastguards the decision was taken," said Mr Davies.

"We were told that the weather was going to deteriorate and coupled with an easterly wind it would be detrimental to have the fireworks."

Mr Davies said people were told of the postponement through local radio and regular announcements were also made on the Esplanade's PA system.

"We usually have around 25,000 people watching the display on a Monday night and although some people did turn up, it was a fraction of that figure. We still had the music though.

"We are sorry people were disappointed but safety was paramount. The display will be scheduled for a later date and the prize draw which should have taken place last night will be held then."

He said he would take on board the suggestion from the hospitality association to let them know of any cancellation of events in the future.