Town axes annual Christmas fair as organisers leave

Almost 100 stalls lined Maldon High Street during last year's Christmas fair

A town's annual Christmas fair has been cancelled after its organising committee lost two "key members".

Maldon Town Council said it would instead run a "modest" lights switch-on event to mark the beginning of the festive period on 28 November.

Thousands of people attended the Essex town's fair last year as almost 100 stalls lined the High Street.

Maldon mayor Andrew Lay extended his "sincere gratitude" to those who had been planning this year's event before it was scrapped.

"Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed," he said.

Mr Lay thanked outgoing Christmas fair chairman Michael Pearlman and said he had been a "driving force" over the past decade.

The council made the announcement after it decided the fair would not be of the same quality as it had been previously.

It said the event had been a "cherished Maldon tradition" and the decision to axe it was not taken lightly.