The organisers of the Gourmet Garden Market in Sidmouth have had cancel the event as it is feared it will be too popular and prompt a 'mass gathering'.

Sidmouth's Gourmet Garden Market was slated to take place in Blackmoor Gardens on July 18 but due to concerns about a 'mass gathering' from East Devon District Council the event has been cancelled.

The organisers are planning a replacement event for December this year, what they are calling 'Sidmouth's first-ever Christmas Food, Craft and Carol fair'.

The Gourmet Garden Market's Laura Mead spoke to Nub News this morning, she said: "A lot of people have been asking about our lovely festival in Blackmoor Gardens and so I just wanted to update you all to say that unfortunately, we have cancelled the July 18 event for obvious reasons.

"Although outdoor markets are now permitted there were concerns at EDDC that our event would be so popular, as it has been in recent years, that it would turn into a 'mass gathering' and this is obviously not allowed in the current circumstances.

"We tried very hard to put measures in place which we thought would enable the event to go ahead and as traders ourselves we are aware that many local producers and crafts people have had a very difficult time recently so wanted to support them too and give them an opportunity to get back out on the events circuit but after talking to EDDC we agree that it is in everyone's best interest to postpone it once again.

"The above picture of is of our event last April which was such a huge success and as you can all understand, we couldn't let this happen this year.

"But there is some good news! We have rescheduled the event for December 5 this year for what will become Sidmouth's first-ever Christmas Food, Craft and Carol fair.

"We hope that by pushing it back to December we may be out of the woods by then and we wanted to give people something fun to look forward to."

"So we will still be sticking to social distancing measures (unless we are told by then that we do not need to) and there will be lots of lovely food and drink and art and crafts to buy, all produced locally.

"We will try to organise a choir and/or music and there will be a cocktail bar and street food. Obviously we have to play it by ear a little at the moment with government guidelines changing so often but we will adhere to the rules and make it work."