Fatboy Slim has spoken of his disappointment after his biggest show since the infamous Normstock II was called off just hours after it was officially announced.

The Hove-based DJ, real name Norman Cook, had been lined up to headline a May Day party and barbecue at Brighton Racecourse.

But just hours after organisers began promoting the May 4 event, racecourse officials issued a statement saying it would not be going ahead.

The racecourse said the dance event was being ruled out in light of police opposition, saying publicity for the event had been premature.

It said it had never applied to the city council for a public entertainment licence or a liquor licence and had got no further than consultations with the organisers, police and city council.

A spokesman said: "While Brighton Racecourse welcomes events of this stature and nature, they are subject to meticulous planning and would only be publicly confirmed once we have received the unanimous support of the licensing authorities.

"We have now received notification from Sussex Police they would oppose licence applications for this event, as they are of the opinion there is insufficient planning time.

"However, they would welcome an application for a similar event later in the year."

The party's organisers last night refused to confirm if they had given up on the event.

They would not say whether they believed it had been blown out of proportion in the media in light of last summer's beach gig, when 250,000 turned up and caused city-wide chaos.

But Fatboy himself said the event was definitely off, although he vowed to find an alternative venue.

He said: "Unfortunately it's off. We're a victim of our own success.

"We'll still do it but it'll be somewhere else.

"It was never going to be Normstock III. The police just got a bit scared about the whole thing."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "No application has ever been made officially.

"Our planning officer has simply given the racecourse a verbal indication that we would find it difficult to organise the event at such short notice."