Rock am Ring in Germany has been cancelled after lightning strikes injured at least 80 fans.

Performances were suspended on Saturday during heavy storms, and with more bad weather forecast, festival organisers were forced to call off the final day after local authorities revoked its licence early on Sunday morning.

The festival told fans that they regretted the decision but accepted it was necessary because the safety of fans was of paramount importance, as the BBC reports.

Up to 72 fans were injured, 15 seriously, by the lightning strike early on Saturday morning, with some fans also taken to hospital after being hit by flying debris or suffering asthma attacks. The 92,000-capacity festival also suffered lightning strikes last year, when 33 people were taken to hospital.

Exceptionally heavy rain around Europe this week has led to the deaths of 18 people in Germany, France, Romania and Belgium.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Foals and Deftones were among the bands on the line-up.

Footage from the festival shows the scale of the thunderstorm.