Dove Holes villagers ‘gutted’ as bonfire and fireworks display is cancelled

The event - which would have celebrated its 47th consecutive year this autumn - is regularly attended by well-over a thousand people.

Simon Youd, who helps organise the event, told how the event’s cancellation would mean a big loss of income used to keep the village hall running.

The latest blow comes after multiple community groups who hire the village hall cancelled when new lockdown rules restricted mixed households to just six.

He said: “It’s a big loss of revenue that we use to keep the hall running - obviously we’re not using as much energy but the bills still keep coming in.

“And now groups are limited to six we’ve had artist groups and dance groups cancelling - we’re hoping they’ll come back if regulations change but that will probably be in the spring now.

“Virus cases are increasing and so are hospital admissions.”

With the winter set to bring more risk of contracting Covid-19 Simon, chairman of Dove Holes Community Association, says the group are preparing to cancel other village events.

Dove Holes’ Christmas lights switch on event - normally attended by hundreds - and its Remembrance Sunday church service are both expected to be cancelled.

He said: “We’ve had lots of messages from people - they’re all really gutted by it as it’s a really big community event and we’re very disappointed.

“I guess we just have to hope that 2021 will be a bit brighter than this year has been so far.”

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