THE annual Bishops Lydeard steam and vintage rally scheduled for August 7-8 – the West Somerset Railway Association’s main fundraising event of the year – was this week cancelled by the organisers amid fears about new Covid variants.

The event, which attracts enthusiasts from all over the country, was also cancelled last year by the pandemic.

Geoff Garfield, of the rally’s organising team, said: “We have been hoping that it would have been possible to go ahead with the 2021 rally and we have now reached the time when we need to make a final decision.

“We have reviewed all the latest safety advice, the safety precautions needed and the recent uncertainties caused by news about new Covid variants.

“We have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there are too many uncertainties to allow us to go ahead, so we must cancel the event planned for August.

“This will be disappointing news for our many exhibitors, volunteers and supporters, but we feel that there is no reasonable alternative.

Mr Garfield added: “We look forward to better news for next year’s rally, planned for August 6-7, 2022.”