All the Somerset carnivals, including the one in Shepton which bring in thousands of visitors and raise important funds for local causes, have been cancelled.

Organisers of the carnivals, in Wells, Shepton and Glastonbury, took the decision due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The circuit starts in Bridgwater, where it has been estimated that every year more than 150,000 people visit the carnival, believed to be the largest illuminated carnival in the world.

Overall the seven Somerset carnivals are estimated to bring just under £40 million into the county's economy and raise in excess of £150,000 for local causes.

The Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals circuit made the announcement to postpone all the carnivals until 2021.

The statement put out is as follows:

"The difficult and timely decision was taken following discussions between the towns, the entrants and the authorities regarding the ever changing Coronavirus threat in the UK.

Bridgwater, Highbridge and Burnham on Sea, Weston Super Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Glastonbury all form part of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association (SCGFCA). All of the towns unanimously agreed that safety and public health has to be the number one priority, and during such uncertain and unprecedented times this was the right thing to do and the only sensible way forward.

Every year the seven Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals attracts tens of thousands of people from all over the county and the world to the streets of Somerset, and raises a huge amount of money for charities and good causes.

A spokesperson SCGFCA said: "Unfortunately illuminated carnivals like we have been accustomed to in Somerset will now not take place this year and will be sadly postponed.

"It is highly unlikely that any large gatherings of people will be allowed until there is a vaccination for COVID-19, and when this is combined with the ongoing social distancing arrangements which will remain in place for some considerable time yet, there is very little chance of the towns and the entries of being able to raise the necessary monies needed to put on such spectacular events."

The carnival community has already introduced a number of proactive measures to reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus, including cancelling all face to face committee and club meetings until further notice and cancelling all fundraising events.

"We will of course continue to monitor the rapidly changing Coronavirus situation in the UK and follow Government guidance and advice, and we very much hope that the situation in the country will have improved enormously by the beginning of November".

"If the situation changes, we are sure some of the towns will look at continuing the carnival tradition in a very low key and symbolic way.

"In the meantime, please stay safe and our thoughts are very much with those who have been affected and impacted by Coronavirus."

We look forward to welcoming the public back to our carnivals as we know them in 2021.