Alan Watson, of the Lions Club of New Milton, said the risk of staging the Hampshire town’s Christmas Festival and Parade was “too great”.

The annual event attracts up to 7,000 people, with 80 market stalls and a parade through the town.

“An awful lot goes into it – it’s more frustrating for the people of New Milton who look forward to it every year, it’s even more of a disappointment for the children,” he added.

Portsmouth’s We Shine lights arts festival, which is being held at venues throughout the city, has also cancelled its outdoor installations for Saturday night. Organisers said the indoor ones would still go ahead.

In Maidenhead, Berkshire, the fireworks element of the town’s Christmas lights switch-on event have been cancelled and the outside market, music and performances have been moved into the town hall.

Wokingham Lions Club also announced the town’s Winter Carnival would not go ahead.

A statement said: “We realise that this is disappointing not only for those who were looking forward to attending the event, but also for the many charities and voluntary organisations who would have used the event to raise funds.”

A yellow warning for rain, external is in place from Saturday at 06:00 GMT until 23:45 on Sunday.

A yellow warning for wind runs from 15:00 on Saturday to 21:00 Sunday.

Significant disruption is likely over the weekend with people being urged to check events for cancellations and road closures or delays to public transport before setting out.