Weston-super-Mare’s popular sand sculpture festival – due to celebrate its 15 th year in 2020 – has been postponed.
The festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, was due to open on the resort’s beach on April 4.
Organisers have now taken the decision, due to the coronavirus outbreak, to postpone the event.
Work starting on building the site at the beginning of March.
But, with new guidelines in place during the lockdown and the fact that many of the sculptors come from Europe and cannot travel has meant a decision was taken to postpone.
As spokesman for the festival said: “We started the build up of the Weston Sand Sculpture Festival in the first week of March.
“We were extremely excited, because 2020 would be the celebration of the 15th year of the festival.
“Unfortunately, the Covid 19 Crisis has already affected many people and businesses, and the Weston Sand Sculpture Festival is no exception.
“It is therefore with great sadness that we have had to decide to postpone the build-up and opening of the Weston Sand Sculpture Festival until further notice, following government advice to encourage social distancing and avoid unnecessary social contact, as well as unnecessary travel.
“The majority of our international team of sand sculptors is already not able to fly to the UK anymore, and besides that; the health and well-being of our team, our partners and our visitors is and will be our top priority.”
Organisers hope to re-start building of the festival later in the seaside when it is safe to do so.
People can keep up to date on developments on the Sand Sculpture Festival Facebook page.
