POPULAR chainsaw-carving competition Carve Carrbridge 2020 – due to take place on 5th September – has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Gavin Gerrard, event coordinator, commented: "We delayed making the decision for as long as possible in the hope that circumstances would change and allow the Carve to go ahead. However, it is clear that the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic means that it is simply not going to be possible for the event to run.

"We know that many people will be disappointed that there will not be a Carve this year and I am sure that they will appreciate the challenges the team faced in making the decision.

"It was a tough call, but as organisers, we first and foremost had to consider our responsibility and duty of care to event visitors, carvers, volunteers, sponsors and traders."

Organisers are considering some form of virtual event to mark the day, and should have a better idea of whether or not this is an option in the coming weeks, Gavin said.

Looking to 2021, he added: "We are hoping that it will bring a return to more normal times and we can go ahead with the event on 4th September 2021."

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