Cambridge County Council and Cambridge Live have taken the decision to cancel the fun fair planned to accompany the annual Cambridge Bonfire Night celebrations on Midsummer Common tonight after a member of the public was “seriously injured” in an incident involving a vehicle yesterday.

She was crushed by a lorry that was part of the preparations for the fun fair, the council and Cambridge Live saying they felt it would be “inappropriate to go ahead” with it, while they work with police and the Health and Safety Executive to ascertain the cause of the accident.

In a statement Chief Executive of Cambridge City Council, Antoinette Jackson, said: “Our thoughts are with the member of the public who was hurt and with their family.”

She added: “The safety of members of the public at all our events is of paramount importance.”

Despite the incident and subsequent cancellation of the fun fair, the bonfire and fireworks display will go ahead tonight with the usual toilet and catering facilities.

Jackson explained that they felt a “professionally managed” fireworks display was a “safe alternative to people putting on their own displays”.

There were also concerns that crowds of people may still turn up to Midsummer Common if the event was cancelled altogether, with an estimated 25,000 people attending the event each year.