THIS SUMMER'S Ventnor Fringe is the latest event to be postponed in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic

Organisers have said that the 11th Ventnor Fringe will not take place this year in line with current government regulations that ban mass gatherings.

A spokesperson for the Ventnor Fringe said: "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm this year's Ventnor Fringe will not be going ahead.

"We are enormously grateful to the doctors, nurses, health and social care professionals and the many other front line workers who have kept the country going in these difficult times.

"Our thoughts too are with all of those who have felt the economic hit of the lockdown and the unintended consequences that this will have.

"We are also acutely aware of the huge damage inflicted on the creative industries, and the thousands of arts organisations and freelancers who have been impacted.

"We will play our part in doing everything we can to support and rebuild this creative community.

"All artist registration fees and ticket sales will automatically be rolled over to 2021, but we are also committing to refunding, in full, everyone not wishing or able to do this.

"Financially this is a very difficult period for us, but the generosity and support shown by everyone towards the festival and Ventnor Exchange gives us huge hope for the future and an optimism that this has become a movement that can bring about real and lasting change.

"We are committed to ensuring the event's long term survival and our small team are working hard to keep the Fringe dream alive.

"We still hope to mark what would have been this year's event in an exciting creative way and will reveal more as soon as we are able to."

Ventnor Fringe will return from 27th July - 1st August 2021.