THE third instalment of an annual charity festival has been canned due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers of Heditude 2020 have been forced to pull the plug on this year's concert due to the current lockdown restrictions.

Starting in 2018, the concert, which is located in Sible Hedingham, invites numerous local and up and coming artists to put on a varied and unique show.

The festival also consistently raised hundreds for good causes such as Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and Help for Harry, a charity set up to support a little boy diagnosed with Treacher Collin’s syndrome at birth.

This years show promised to be the biggest the festival has ever been with the concert incorporating feedback from residents.

Big changes would have included a whole new venue at the Hedingham United football ground and a switch to an 'admission free family day out' funding model, tested by Heditude Unplugged back in February 2020.

However, with work towards Heditude 2020 proceeding at pace, the UK found itself up to its neck in Covid-19.

As the government started to place restrictions on events and gatherings and organisers said it became clear that Heditude 2020 had to be cancelled.

However, the organisers are not giving up on the concert entirely and planning for Heditude 2021 is now well underway.

Heditude Secretary, Tracey Ashmeade, said: “Though we can't yet have committee meetings, we've had several conference calls and Zoom calls, and things are getting set in place for Heditude 2021.

"We're planning to use the 'Rec', and by next summer, social distancing rules for outdoor events should be clear so we can manage people safely. And we already have our first act in place.”

The show's committee is now recruiting volunteers to help manage the event, and looking for sponsors.

They are also in the process of booking acts, stalls and hiring contractors.

If you want to get involved you can find out more information at heditude.org.