While this year's Sidmouth Folk Festival will not be going ahead folk fans can look forward to a virtual version of the festival in the first week of August.

This year's Sidmouth Folk Festival was cancelled back in April due to the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, this will be the first year without a folk festival in the town for 65 years.

Festival organisers are now asking the community for helping securing the future of the event, through a Crowdfunding appeal.

A spokesperson for the festival said: "For us to bounce back next year stronger than ever, and to support the wider festival community and local businesses, we need Champions to contribute to our new Crowdfunding appeal and to choose some exciting, exclusive rewards in return.

"All funds pledged will go into supporting and securing the future of The Sidmouth Folk Festival, assisting with the Festival's operational costs, covering some of the 2020 costs incurred and helping to secure a brighter future for the event.

"Amongst the fantastic rewards planned are some 1:1 masterclasses with top festival artists; relaxing weekend breaks in Sidmouth hotels; some great bespoke merchandise; special supporter events at the 2021 Festival; prime motorhome site offers; great long-term ticket offers and a unique creation by Aardman Animations, the world famous creators of Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep."

There will be rewards on offer to all supporters, no matter the size of your donation.

The Coronavirus outbreak hit the festival hard. Putting on the festival each year costs more than £700,000. When the festival was cancelled in April this year 20 per cent of the festival's 2020 budget had already been spent on marketing, planning, deposits and ticket overheads.

Each year the 'small surplus' of money made by the festival is ploughed back into planning the following year's event.

There are also plans in place to put on a Virtual 66th Sidmouth Folk Festival in the first week of August, as a festival spokesperson explained: "Look forward to a Virtual 66th Sidmouth Folk Festival in the first week of August this year with contributions from many parts of the festival, including concert performances, workshops, the famous John Gasson Jig Competition, storytelling and much more.

"Thanks to those who were straight out of the blocks after the cancellation offering to take part in such an event. Look out for more details over the coming weeks.

"We are all desperate to see festival life return, and we want to guarantee that return of The Sidmouth Folk Festival will be a genuine cause for celebration in 2021, and back to its full glory forever after. Thanks again for all your support and keep looking out for more exciting developments in the next few weeks."

The campaign, Be A Sidmouth Champion: Act now to secure the future of this unique folk arts event, starts on June 30 and runs through until August 4, which would have been the Tuesday of the festival.

Look out for more updates on the festival's website.