A popular Victorian fayre will which sees visitors and stallholders dressed in period costumes has been cancelled.

The biennial Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre will not go ahead this summer as organisers could not get enough people together to form a full committee.

However, there is still hope as those behind the much-loved event are hoping to ‘gauge interest’ and ‘try again in 2025.’

Dorset Echo:

David Langridge, Chairman of the fayre committee said: “I and the 2022 Street Fayre committee have held off as long as possible, but unfortunately, we have not been able to get enough people to form a full committee, with several key roles still remaining vacant.

“Due to changes in policy, access, health and safety concerns by Wessex Water we are no longer able to utilise the Waterworks area for the fayre, this is obviously a huge blow to the running of the event.

“The committee have decided to cancel the 2024 event and have asked the residents locally what their view is on the event and to gauge interest to try again in 2025.”

This year was supposed to mark the 30th anniversary of the unique street fayre which often attracts ‘crowds of around 7,000 people.’

Mr Langridge added: “It’s sad really, it’s a community based event which raises a decent amount of money for local charities. The last time we held the event in 2022, we raised just short of £20,000.

“It’s become a victim of its own success – it’s a fairly large event ran by the village and some people in Preston.”

If the fayre was to go ahead next year, organisers would happily welcome change, saying: “This could be the same format, a totally new theme and format or a reduced event to cut down the impact on the manpower required to put the event on and impact on the village itself.”

The one-day fayre which raises money for a variety of charities sees the centre of the village shut to traffic, with plenty of entertainment on offer, including two stages for live music many different stalls, as well as a children’s entertainment area.

If you would like to join the committee and hopefully bring the fayre back to life, contact the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SuttonPoyntzVictorianStreetFayre.