Sutton Poyntz: Lack of volunteers sees Victorian Street Fayre axed

The one-day summer fayre sees the centre of the village shut to traffic with stalls, music, games and competitions

A Victorian street fayre, which started 30 years ago, has been axed because there are not enough people to run it.

The event, held every other year, attracts thousands to Dorset village Sutton Poyntz, near Weymouth.

With not enough people coming forward to form a full committee, organisers said "with sadness" this year's event could not go ahead.

Held on even years since 1994, apart from 2020 due to Covid, it raises about £20,000 for local charities annually.

It is hoped volunteers will come forward to support the event in 2025

David Langridge, chair of the event, said: "We couldn't raise enough committee members to fill the posts. It's a real shame."

Alongside a lack of people to set up and run the event, the use of an area of Wessex Water's site as an entrance was also no longer possible, he said .

Posting on the fayre's Facebook page, organisers said they hoped to run the event in some form in 2025, if residents were in support.

"This could be the same format, a totally new theme and format or a reduced event to cut down the impact on the manpower required to put the event on and impact on the village itself," it said.

The one-day fayre sees the centre of the village shut to traffic with stalls, music, games and competitions held to raise money for a variety of charities.

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