ORGANISERS of Bridgwater Fair braved wet weather to mark would have been the start of the annual event.

The fair, which is held annually in St Matthew's Field in Bridgwater, was due to be held in September but in May Sedgemoor District Council - in consultation with the Showman’s Guild - decided to call it off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event has three elements - a four day fun fair and rides on St Matthew’s Field, a four day street market in West Street and a one day market and horse fair on St Matthew's Field

But a spokesperson for Sedgemoor District Council said in May it would be 'impossible to guarantee social distancing within the street market' part of the fair.

READ MORE: Bridgwater Fair CANCELLED for 2020

The news came just weeks after this year's Bridgwater Carnival was postponed until 2021, as well as all other circuit carnivals.

To mark what would have been the opening day of the popular fair on Wednesday (September 30) organisers braved the wet weather and stood at St Matthew's Field with balloons and hit a strength tester.

Steven Hill, one of the organisers of Bridgwater Fair, said: "It has been devastating that we have not been able to put the fair on this year.

"We really wanted to put the event on this year but Public Health said it couldn't go ahead as we wouldn't have been able to keep social distancing.

"We are currently working with the council to make sure we can host an event in 2021 and make it a bigger and better event than ever before."