ANOTHER major Weymouth event that usually draws big crowds has fallen victim to the pandemic.

Organisers of the Weymouth Beach Motocross say this year's event, scheduled for Sunday, October 18, will not go ahead.

It will leave a 'huge hole' in the town’s events calendar for this year, Weymouth & Portland Lions Club and the Purbeck Motocross Club said.

It is usually a welcome economy boost in the quieter months after the main summer season

They are focusing their efforts on 2021, with beach motocross' return set for Sunday, October 10.

President of Weymouth & Portland Lions Club Ryan Hope said: “I am very disappointed that we are not able to go ahead with this year’s beach motocross but can understand the reasons why. Sadly, we will also miss out on the £3,000 for local organisations that this event usually raises”.

Alf Stearn from Purbeck Motocross Club said: “This decision is a great blow to all of the riders who really look forward to this event each year, it would of come at the end of what would have been a very busy motocross season and it’s great fun for everyone. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2021.”

Weymouth Beach Motocross first started in 1984 and is now considered to be the biggest amateur event of its kind in the country

The event sees Weymouth Beach transform into a motocross course, complete with bumps and jumps. There are three classes of riders – junior, senior and expert.

Although the event is free for spectators, Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, which helps organise the event, encourages people to make charitable donations.

Around 300 riders took part in last year's event and there were huge crowds.

However the event was marred by injury when a marshal was hit by a motorbike.

The injured man, had been marshalling during the experts’ practice and was helping a rider get back on his bike when another made the jump, coming down on his head.

He was seriously injured and continues to recover.