The annual West Somerset Railway Association Steam and Vintage Rally at Norton Fitzwarren has been cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.

The decision to cancel the event, which is held in the first week of August and attracts 6,500 visitors, was made by a group of local volunteers who work throughout the year planning and organising it.

Geoff Garfield, who chairs the group, said: “We have reluctantly come to the decision that it will not be possible to run the 2020 rally, planned for August 1-2.

“We had held off the decision for as long as possible in the hope that restrictions would be lifted and we could still safely organise a rally. We have now concluded that this is not possible.”

The team are hoping to be able to run a ‘virtual rally’ in August – an online video featuring some of the best bits of previous events, with new material. It will be added to the many railway films already on ‘WSR TV’ on the WSRA website, www.wsra.org.uk

The 2021 Steam and Vintage Rally is planned for August 7-8.