THE August Bank Holiday Watchet Music Festival has become the latest major Somerset event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular annual event attracts thousands of visitors to the town, and this year was scheduled to have Sister Sledge, Gabrielle, and Shed Seven among the headline acts.

But on Saturday, May 2, the organisers Watchet Live issued a statement saying they had taken the 'extremely difficult decision' not to hold the festival this year.

"This is done with a very heavy heart and comes at a time of universal uncertainty," the statement reads.

"We take the health and safety of all of you, our customers, artists, traders, staff and volunteers very seriously and urge everyone to continue to follow the guidelines set out by the UK government and Public Health England."

The organisers said the festival would be postponed until August 27, 28 and 29 in 2021 and that all tickets already booked will remain valid, and emails have been sent on how to apply for refunds.

However Watchet Live do say that they have been talking to the acts scheduled for this year's lineup and most have agreed to play the festival in 2021.

The statement concludes: "We are so bitterly disappointed and understand that this is very challenging for us all and we very much appreciate your love, understanding and ongoing support.

"We really hope that you decide to carry your booking forward to the 2021 weekend.

"Currently this is an extremely difficult period to operate within the event industry and we ask you to please bear with us in this testing time."