The organiser of a cancelled Christmas event has continued to be kept a secret.

Maidstone Borough Council’s press office refused to name the firm behind the Ice Park at Mote Park in September, citing it was ‘commercially sensitive’.

The same line was toed when the Kent Messenger sent a Freedom of Information Request in October.

We appealed the refusal and this week MBC's refusal was upheld by Mid Kent Legal Services.

It revealed MBC had never entered a formal contract with the mystery company - that’s despite tickets going on sale and promotional materials being shared.

Its statement read: “Whilst I take on board your comment that it is in the public’s interest to know what companies the council works with, in this particular matter, the council had not contracted formally with the third party, in this case the event organiser.

“It is for this reason that consideration was given as to whether or not the information should be released. In order to rely on exemption 43(2), it is necessary to seek the opinion of the third party. “They state that the release of the information is commercially sensitive as it would have a negative effect on the current events they are promoting. This is due to the fact that the planned Ice Park event at Mote Park was cancelled.”

If it weren't for the cancellation, the Ice Park would have launched this Saturday, it originally promised to have an ice rink, complete with dodgems and ice skating performances as well food and drink stalls.

A Maidstone Borough Council spokeswoman said: “Maidstone Borough Council will agree an event and provisionally take the booking for Mote Park for an event subject to contract.

"The event companies will be subject to checks and have to pay a deposit before the event is announced.

“It is standard practice by event companies to announce an event once the event has been provisionally agreed to raise interest.

"The event is still subject to the final signed contract and all events must go to the Safety Advisory Group.

“Regarding the Ice park, as was stated before, the event organiser cancelled this year as they were unable to get financial guarantees from the supplier of the equipment.”

The Kent Messenger will now appeal to the Information Commissioner to establish the name of the company.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone.