THE BRIDPORT Carnival has been cancelled for the second consecutive year.

The torchlight procession that traditionally follows the carnival has also been cancelled.

The Bridport Carnival is the latest in a string of local events which have been cancelled this summer, alongside the Melplash Agricultural Show, Jurassic Fields Music Festival and Dorset County Show.

Organisers said back in February that they were waiting 'a little longer' before making a decision, but also spoke of the difficulties they faced in putting on the event.

Chairman of the carnival, Graham Davies, said: "Unfortunately, carnival president Sandra Brown, myself and the committee have taken the sad decision that it will still not be feasible to hold a carnival or torchlight procession this year.

"It is such a shame especially after the high standard reached in 2019.

"We have not reached this decision lightly; legal permissions arranging road closures and signage, permissions required from the council, limited time for participants to prepare their entries - due to restrictions - and then trying to enforce social distancing of crowds at both events,has all proved insurmountable.

"We are hoping to hold the quiz, bingo and darts competitions, subject to the venues' owners' agreement."

Mr Davies added: "We are determined that 2022 carnival week will be even bigger and better, not only to make up for the cancelled years, but also to show that the '20s can be fun."

The last Bridport Carnival went ahead in 2019 and saw the festivities go on for an entire week, before culminating in the popular torchlight procession from Bucky Doo Square to West Bay.

The procession saw hundreds of people line the streets as a number of creative floats lined up on West Street, before making their way up to the town hall and down South Street.