Santa Special rides on the Moors Valley steam railway have been cancelled for Christmas.

The popular rides, which sell out within minutes every year at the east Dorset site, are the latest festive casualty of the pandemic.

A spokesman for Moors Valley Country Park said: “Over the past few weeks, we have been exploring the endless options and possibilities regarding how our Santa Specials could go ahead in a safe manner to protect both our visitors and staff, and of course Father Christmas himself.

"Unfortunately, due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the sad decision to cancel our Santa Specials for 2020. It would be very difficult for us to hold this event in the current circumstances without compromising on the magic of the Santa Specials that we all know and love. We understand this will be of great disappointment to many of you, as it is for us but the health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers is of paramount importance.

“However, we hear that Father Christmas has already scheduled us in his diary for next Christmas and will be visiting Moors Valley Railway on 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th December 2021.”