No rain on his parade... actually, no parade at all!

DAILY STAR - TOWN hall pen-pushers have put the brakes on Lewis Hamilton’s dream victory parade. The Formula One champion longed to say “thank you” to fans in his McLaren team’s home town.

But the ace has had to cancel the trip after civic leaders in Woking, Surrey, refused to foot the £110,000 security bill.

They said it was too high a price to pay to honour Britain’s first black motorsport star.

Councillors blamed the “global economic climate” and health and safety rules for the snub.

A town hall spokesman said:

“Provisional costing showed we would need to find up to £110,000 to deliver a safe public event. Lewis’ popularity would undoubtedly attract thousands of people and, sadly, we do not have the resources to put the necessary measures in place to fully guarantee their safety.

“Given the council’s financial position and the national and global economic climate, Woking Borough Council is unable to fund an event that would enable members of the public to safely participate in the celebrations.”

It was Lewis’ second disappointment this month after he lost out to Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

In 1998 thousands turned out in Woking to see then world champion Mika Hakkinen celebrate his victory by driving his F1 McLaren through the middle of town.

McLaren declined to comment on Lewis’ cancelled parade.

L3wi5 Hamiltoff's NOTE> AIN’t raining men, Hallelujah, ain’t  no parade, Amen!