HOPES for next year's Maldon Carnival procession are pinned on an end to the Covid-19 pandemic by next August - after the event was cancelled at the weekend for just the second time since World War Two.

The popular carnival, which saw hundreds of residents line the town centre's streets when it last ran in August 2018, had been going strong since 1895.

The only previous cancellations were during the 1939-1945 war. Then last year the procession was cancelled due to a lack of volunteers, despite appeals on social media and in the local press.

Organisers and residents rallied to make sure the carnival was kept alive and the carnival was scheduled to come back with a bang last Saturday (1 August) – but coronavirus struck and once again the town's big summer celebration was called off.

Now there are hopes that the 2021 carnival will resume Maldon's great tradition, with a colourful procession along the historic High Street of the town, but it all depends on whether or not current social distancing restrictions have been relaxed by then.

Maldon Carinival organiser, Rob Slight, told Maldon Nub News: "We are holding online events this week, like online bingo, to keep things going and raise funds. The procession means a lot, but if the current situation with the pandemic is still here next August, it won't be able to go ahead."

The organising group is currently considering different options, including an open air fair, if the need for social distancing persists through next spring and summer. And an appeal is being made to keep the carnival spirit alive by posting procession photos from yesteryear on Maldon Carnival's Facebook page.

For more details of this week's events and to keep up with carnival news visit Maldon Carnival website