Big screen plans for World Cup dropped

Plans to show World Cup games to thousands of fans in a central London park have been dropped, a spokesman for the mayor said today.

The planned "Fan Fest" would have seen as many as 20,000 fans watch games on big screens in a section of Regent's Park.

A spokeswoman for mayor Boris Johnson said: "We were considering Regent's Park as a possible location for a Fan Fest, but legitimate concerns highlighted by our consultation raised doubts about the commercial viability of the plan to hold it there and we are now focusing on the other options available."

The move was welcomed by London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Brian Coleman.

He said: "I am pleased that the mayor has seen common sense on this matter.

"The massive clean-up costs left by hordes of drunken football supporters would have just been unacceptable.

"This decision is good news for those residents living locally, who faced the prospect of weeks of disturbed living. We need to look after our prized parkland, and I welcome this decision to abandon this ill-thought-through proposal."