Following the latest spike in coronavirus cases, the new Government restrictions and the expected length of time that these will be applied, the Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival organisers have taken the decision to pause the event for 2021.

Plans were underway for a festival with a different shape and style to take account of social distancing but with the latest news it's clear that the restrictions would make any of the face-to-face elements of the festival extremely difficult and could impose unnecessary risk to the public.

The festival organisers said: "Our theme for 2021 - Hope in Nature - was very much a reflection of the challenges we're facing as a community and as a country.

"The healing power of nature and gardens is widely recognised. In these extraordinary times they've been a lifeline for many people confronted with lockdown, loneliness and loss.

"In light of this it was especially difficult to make the decision to pause the 2021 festival."

However, the organisers still hope to see the town blanketed white with snowdrops and they're calling on the people and communities of Shepton Mallet to help.

"We hope to go ahead with the planters in the town which we know bring so much pleasure to people," the organisers said.

"We'd like to work with town centre businesses and the people of Shepton Mallet in February to find ways of brightening up the town with real and hand-made snowdrops in gardens and windows, a collective sign of hope and recovery as we look to the spring after what could be a hard winter. More details will follow closer to the time."