THE coronavirus crisis has put paid to any hopes of Wellington Carnival being staged in its customary form this year.

The event had already been called off after the chairman and secretary of the carnival committee stepped down and no-one came forward to replace them.

Now the South Somerset Federation of Carnivals, of which Wellington Carnival is part, says the events on its circuit will not be held this year.

The move follows the news that the carnivals which make up the Guy Fawkes Carnivals – including the huge event at Bridgwater – will not be held this year. In a statement the South Somerset Federation of Carnivals said: “The much-loved illuminated carnival processions will be missing as we know them from the streets of Wellington, Ilminster, Chard and Taunton this autumn.

“The safety and well-being of everyone involved as participants, spectators and the supporting emergency and public services must come above everything else.

“In these circumstances the carnival committees in the four towns have reluctantly but responsibly decided the processions cannot go ahead as usual.”

The federation said social distancing now and for months to come was already making it difficult for carnival clubs and other entrants to raise funds and start building floats.

Social distancing would also make it impossible for carnivals which see thousands of people throng the streets.

The statement added: “We are living in challenging and unprecedented times for all of us. This is a huge disappointment and we, like everyone else, will follow developments and advice over the coming weeks and months in the hope that we will be able to celebrate carnival days in public in some form or other.”

Wellington Street Fair, planned for June, and which raises funds to stage the town’s carnival, has already been called off.