The Board of Management of The Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA) has confirmed the cancellation of the 2020 Devon County Show.

The 125th Devon County Show, originally planned for May, and then rescheduled to August, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, will now take place on May 20, 21 and 22, 2021.

Mary Quicke, chair of council for the association explained: "With the government’s suggestion that social distancing will continue for some time yet, and no firm commitment as to when the restriction on large gatherings will be lifted, the association has sadly had to make this extremely difficult decision.

"We appreciate this will be a great disappointment to our agricultural community, traders, competitors and, of course, the thousands of visitors who attend our show every year, all of whom love the show as much as we do.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their support and understanding in these extraordinary times. However, we are confident we have made the right decision in the circumstances and must put the welfare of everyone associated with the show above all else.

"The Devon County Show has been going since 1872 and has survived previous years in which a show could not be held such as during the two World Wars.

"Of course, the cancellation will have consequences for us financially along with many of our exhibitors and sponsors but we’re confident we can ride this storm and bounce back again next year."

The show team will be in direct contact with all those who have booked tickets, trade-stands or entered competitions with more information about what the cancellation will mean for them.

The Devon County Show Craft and Garden Section’s Guinness World Record attempt to create the longest knitted bunting and to which so many people have contributed, will be measured as soon as is practically possible.

The bunting will be hung as planned at the 2021 show and will be auctioned off to raise money for various charitable causes including The Addington Fund.