ORGANISERS of a popular Lyme Regis charity event have announced it will no longer take place.

Candles On The Cobb (COTC) will not be held again, 16 years after being created by Mike Higgs and Phil Street. The event featured sponsored candles lit on The Cobb, with donations raised for local causes.

Following a COTC committee meeting, Mr Higgs and Mr Street and the committee, decided unanimously to close down the organisation.

A statement from the organisers said: “Although there is no right time to bring an end to such a great organisation, after 16 years and more than £130,000 raised, the COTC committee concluded it had achieved all it had set out to achieve over the years, and much more.

“Local youth groups and national charities have significantly benefited from the funds generated by the COTC organisation.

“Seeing how the local youth groups have benefited over the years has given the committee huge satisfaction and to hear how the national charities have used their money has been very rewarding.

“Without the generosity of the public, sponsors, businesses and the support of the hundreds of helpers and organisations, £130,000 would not have been raised and distributed to such worthy causes.”

Donations will still be accepted for the COTC causes but all remaining money will be distributed to the local youth groups in Lyme Regis and Uplyme by the end of 2016.