THE 2020 Llangollen Walking Festival has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the nation, and indeed the world.

This year’s event was due to take place in May, but committee members have taken the decision to cancel the popular walk in north east Wales.

Mike Smart, a professional walking guide and organiser of the Llangollen Walking Festival, said: “It is with enormous regret that we have been forced to cancel.

“The committee has taken this very difficult decision, but we believe it is the right thing to do.

“The health and safety of everyone is a top priority and we must all play our part to reduce the spread COVID-19.

“This would have been the eighth year of our festival where we get people from all over the country coming along, making it a really good shop window for tourism.

“We usually get a lot of sponsors and local businesses on board, and it’s a shame that we’ve had to cancel.

“We have to be sensible for everybody’s sake during difficult times such as these. But we fully intend to go again next year, and happy days will return - we just have to be patient.”

Anyone who has already paid for their walk or walks in Llangollen is encouraged to either carry their booking into 2021, donate their booking fee to the Nightingale House Hospice, or ask for a refund.

For those requesting refunds, the Eventbrite booking fee will be deducted as this is taken at source.