Dunster by candlelight event permanently cancelled

An annual Christmas event, which has been going for more than three decades, has been permanently cancelled.

Dunster by candlelight in Somerset has raised over £200k for St Margaret's Hospice and has been a fixture in the village since 1986.

The event includes a lantern lighting procession and street entertainment.

Founder and chair of the organising committee, Hannah Bradshaw said the "sad" decision was down to rising cost of holding the event.

"It's always been swings and roundabouts, we've always managed to have just about the right number of people but the cost now is about £25,000," said Ms Bradshaw.

"It doesn't matter how much we've tried to budget, it's always a bit more. That is why its come to an end."

"People think that's because we have entertainers who cost quite a bit, well they do, its their business but it's also the background, the road closures, paying for the car parking to park all our residents," she added.

Ms Bradshaw, who originally came up with the idea, said the evening used to be a lot smaller, with traders paying £45 to take part, but with costs increasing organisers decided that after a "good candlelight this year", they would end on a high.

"It's very sad but it is, I think the best way," Ms Bradshaw added.

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