A MAJOR event in Prudhoe’s social calendar has confirmed it will not go ahead this year.

The People’s Treat, which takes place in the first week of December, has been cancelled over social distancing concerns.

The event has been a staple in the town’s history since 1906 and has only ever been cancelled during the First and Second World Wars.

However, organisers have vowed to make next year’s event the best yet.

Secretary Wilton Holmes said: “We’ve made the decision to cancel, but it was not taken lightly.

Mr Holmes said that the treat, which runs over three days, attracts over 200 over 60’s each-day.

“We held back and wanted to wait. But the way things are going, it’s better to make a decision now. There’s a lot of organisation to do it.”

Mr Holmes said that volunteers could not guarantee social distancing and did not want to run the risk of bringing together the town’s most vulnerable.

“We’re concerned that if we do it, what happens if people take ill? We’d never be able to live with it.”

Organisers also did not want to burden the town's businesses, who support the popular event.

“Lots of businesses donate money and gifts and it’s not fair to ask them after they’ve gone through.

“We will make it better next year."

Mr Holmes can be contacted on 07717003729.