MINEHEAD'S Christmas Extravaganza has been cancelled for this year.

Last year community group Revive Minehead put together a fantastic family-based Christmas event which attracted around 1,300 into the town for the evening.

Unfortunately this year the small team of organisers, Fay Dyke, Paul Booker and Phil Rattray, who voluntarily took upon themselves to try and sort out the event for the town, said a number of factors had contributed to the decision.

"The organisation of such an event for this year is too much for three people, one of whom has limited mobility and another just out of hospital due to major surgery," Mr Booker said.

"The success of the first Extravaganza meant that this year the event had to be made safer for pedestrians.

"This and the need for more attractions meant inevitably higher costs, which although not extravagant, were not about to met through sponsorship and funding," he added.

"Our sincere apologies to the Minehead community."

The plan had been for the event to take place on Saturday, December 10 with indoor markets, roadside stalls, live music, funfair rides and more.

Due to the unexpectedly high footfall last year, the Revive Minehead team had been advised by police that at least a partial road closure should be sought.

At Minehead Town Council's finance committee meeting on Monday night, the council were due to discuss a funding application from the Chamber of Commerce for funding toward the event.

Despite the cancellation, town clerk Sue Sanders informed the council that Graham Sizer from the Chamber had been in touch and said there were still plans to to possibly run some form of late night shopping event.

The finance committee agreed to defer the matter until Full Council on November 15.

Mrs Sanders also said there were still separate plans for a 'low-key' Christmas lights switch-on which is expected to take place on December 2 or 3.