Trendy Colombia Road Market in east London axes its carols for rest of the year after '7,000 people' turn up and are packed in 'like sardines' - as locals say they are 'grateful there were no serious injuries'

A trendy east London Christmas market has been forced to cancel its famous carol tradition for the rest of the year due to huge overcrowding.

Up to 7,000 people turned up to the last event at Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays, in Bethnal Green, with organisers saying they have axed the event for the rest of the year over fears for public safety.

Footage uploaded to TikTok of last week's event show massive crowds enjoying the festive singalong, which saw the local vicar wheeling a piano down the street to accompany carolers.

Some who attended said they were 'packed in like sardines' and feared it was a 'disaster waiting to happen', while locals blamed the 'dangerous' levels of overcrowding on the event being advertised on social media.

Columbia Road has long been a tourist hotspot in the capital, with its flower market held every Sunday seeing a rise in visitors year-round - in part thanks to being promoted by social media influencers. 

It holds a festive event on every Wednesday in the lead up to Christmas, with local businesses staying open until late and carol singing from 7-8pm.

But after just two Christmas Wednesdays events this year, St Peter's Bethnal Green, which is behind the event, announced plans to axe the caroling.

In a statement, they said: 'With regret we formally announce that carols will not be taking place on Wednesday 13th and 20th December on Columbia Road this year. 

'The crowds of over 7,000 present last week were of such volume on the road that there was a danger to public safety.

'We are grateful to God and to those working at the event that there were no serious injuries.'

They added that locals, the police and Tower Hamlets council supported the decision to axe the caroling, which had 'become dangerously overrun',

'To those who were planning to come to Columbia Road to shop, we hope you will return to do that. For those who are coming for carols alone please go local,' they  continued.

One Tower Hamlets, an X account representing residents and business owners in Bethnal Green, said that during last week's event '10,000 people' had 'descended upon the narrow road, got drunk and caused chaos for attendees and many residents.'

They added: 'They didn't spend anything in shops which is the main purpose of the event.'

Footage of last week's event showing a sea of people on the road has been shared widely on social media, with many saying that had become a 'victim of its own success'. 

One woman captioned her TikTok video: 'Too many festive vibes. I wanted to punch someone', while another event-goer commented: 'Proof that social media ruined Christmas Carols on Columbia Road. Packed like sardines.'

One regular visitor said: 'Being a veteran of this event I can say last night was the worst because it's a victim of success. Overcrowding due to social media.'

Another local who had been going to the event for years said: 'It's ruined now because there are too many crowds, you can't even hear the singing or the carols.'

Others shared warnings on TikTok to 'not go' because of how 'dangerously busy' it was, with reports of people leaving after 20 minutes due to the crowds.

The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline they have not received any reports in relation to public safety at the event. 

St Peter's Bethnal Green and Tower Hamlets Council have been contacted for comment.