One of the county's most popular annual outdoor events has been cancelled for a second year running because of the pandemic - eight months before it was set to take place.

Organisers of Faversham Hop Festival, which was due to take place in the town in September, say it would have been "irresponsible" to go ahead this year.

The annual event is one of the largest free street festivals in the south east, attracting thousands of people each year with wall-to-wall bands, hops and beer.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic saw last year's festival sadly cancelled, along with most other large-scale events.

And tonight, organisers have announced their "very difficult decision" to cancel this year's festival too.

In a statement on Facebook, they wrote: "Having consulted all the major contributors and stakeholders the team unanimously concluded that to run this year’s event would be irresponsible."

"Much of the money raised to run the festival comes from local people and companies, most of which have suffered much in the last 10 months and asking for money now would seem thoughtless and disproportionate to any benefit they may derive from the actual event.

"The team feel that any benefit would also be limited by a justifiable wariness on behalf of visitors to attend a street festival historically attracting tens of thousands of people at which it can neither enforce Covid-safe practises, nor easily provide socially distanced attractions.

"Therefore there is no guarantee that a safe festival would be either achievable even if allowable by September.

"Once again, we deeply regret this decision to cancel the 2021 festival but feel that it is the safest and most responsible course of action."

The announcement has been met with sadness and understanding from the festival's many supporters, who have praised organisers for their decision-making.

One commenter said: "Much as we love travelling down from Scotland for the festival every year, this is absolutely the right decision and we thank you for making it now, rather than later."

Another wrote: "So sad, but a sensible decision in the circumstances. Roll on 2022!"

Faversham Hop Festival has been celebrating the humble hop since 1990, recalling the traditional festivities associated with the hop harvest and the market town's unrivalled hop heritage.

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