A props and model-making company has praised an event held near Shepton Mallet for the precautions it put in place to allow fun to happen while still being Covid safe.

Podpadstudios attended the Midsummer Night Market at the Bath and West Showground last month, and the husband and wife team behind the business were delighted with how the event was safely run.

They have produced the video you can watch above on the event, and are now hoping that other events can follow its lead and run safely outdoors, while still following government guidelines.

Anna Enright from Podpadstudios told Shepton Mallet Nub News: "We were pleased to hear that one of our customers had started a new venture with outdoor markets and so we went to investigate the Midsummer Night Market.

"The event was very Covid safe, limited numbers, hand sanitisers, space for everyone. The main difference to our usual comic conventions and markets was that it was outdoor, and obviously the weather played a part - there were not as many cosplayers there - however the atmosphere was great.

"There were things to do, strolling entertainers and stalls to visit - so from our perspective a very good first step.

"During lockdown we re-invented the business, and started producing weekly videos on YouTube about prop making, and the comic conversion scene, and life in the workshop featuring us (AKA Mrs Breaker and Master Maker).

"After all when you have 30 days of events cancelled you either give up, cry a lot and close the business, or find something else to do.

"Some of our commissions continued and one customer in particular allowed us to feature his prop - the horn of Erebor from Lord of the Rings - on our weekly videos so our followers can track its creation.

"We also started a Patreon Account so that our follows could support us financially in return for early access to our videos."

Podpadstudios are well known in the UK comic con scene for providing hire props and vehicles that are interactive, offering either a full animatronic, radio control, or a Virtual Reality experience for the event attendees, many of whom follow Podpadstudios' builds on social media streams.

Now, they are hoping that with events like Midsummer Night Market taking place, there will be more confidence for the entertainment sector in holding events like this.

Anna said: "Of course we, like the whole of the entertainments industry, have been greatly affected by Covid-19, and the closure of the majority of the events that we were hired for this year resulted in us loosing a lot of business.

"What do your readers feel - would they be confident to attend an outdoor event?"