This year marks the 549th anniversary of the battle, but the popular event, pencilled in for Saturday at Sandal Castle, has been cancelled.

The Towton Battlefield Society’s Frei Compagnie Re-enactors have paid tribute to lost soldiers by re-enacting the battle each year since 2005.

Helen Doggett, secretary of the society, said the last-minute cancellation was down to unforeseen circumstances.

She said: “It created too many difficulties this year, with the visitor centre being closed, one of our members falling ill and now with all the snow and ice.

“Unfortunately we decided we could not go ahead.

“It is a real shame but we’re hoping to be back next year for the 550th anniversary.”

Last year more than 1,000 people turned out to annual celebrations.

Events this year would have included medieval crafts, food, costumes and stalls, and weather permitting, demonstrations of medieval combat and archery.

Sandal Castle visitor centre closed in November for maintenance and staffing issues. The grounds are still open to visitors.

A Wakefield Council spokesman said that the castle was always open to the re-enactors even though the visitor centre was closed.

A wreath-laying ceremony held as part of the event will still take place.

Members of the Richard III Society will lay wreaths at the Duke of York’s monument on Manygates Lane at 2.15pm to commemorate those who fell in the battle.

l The Battle of Wakefield was fought on December 30, 1460, and became known as one of the bloodiest of the War of the Roses.

The disputed King of England, Richard Duke of York, was slaughtered after leaving Sandal Castle with his army of around 5,000 to face King Henry VI’s opposing Lancastrian force of 15,000.

The Yorkists were overwhelmed and it is believed that Richard’s poor military skills shown on the day inspired the nursery rhyme, The Grand Old Duke of York.

Richard is believed to have fallen at Portobello, where a monument was unveiled on Manygates Lane in 1897.

His son Edmund was also killed in the battle, by Lord Clifford, close to Chantry Bridge as he tried to flee.

Both their heads were displayed on poles at Micklegate in York by the victorious Lancastrians.