This year's Royal Bath & West Show has been cancelled and new dates for next year's have been announced.

As the country continues to live in lockdown, the board of trustees has decided that, having already moved the dates from May to August, it will still be too soon for mass gatherings.

The next Royal Bath & West Show will be held on June 3-5, 2021.

Rupert Cox, the chief executive of the Royal Bath & West Society said: “Obviously we are hugely disappointed to be taking this decision, and to have to cancel one of the largest events in Somerset is a great shame.

"We hope that our visitors, traders and exhibitors will understand that we have a civic responsibility to act sensibly and in line with government advice. That now means cancelling this year’s ever-popular Royal Bath & West Show.

"We look forward to welcoming everyone back to next year’s show on June 3-5, 2021 when we will throw a wonderful party in celebration of Great British farming and rural life.”

The society will be in touch with ticketholders for the show with details of what to do next, and will also contact all exhibitors, sponsors and competition entrants.

The board of trustees and all staff at the Royal Bath & West Society would like to thank the public, traders, competitors and sponsors for their understanding and patience during this period of uncertainty, and what is an unprecedented situation.