A POPULAR family-friendly North Yorkshire music festival has announced it will not go ahead this year.

Organisers of Deer Shed Festival, based at Topcliffe, near Thirsk, said they have postponed the event due to the current lack of any viable event insurance options.

Deer Shed 11 was due to be held at Baldersby Park from July 30 to August 1 and as well as live music across several stages, the family friendly offering had a line up that included comedy, the arts and shows as well as food and camping options.

Festival directors Oliver Jones and Kate Webster said they have concerns over the lack of Covid cancellation insurance and the risks of running without it are just too great.

Tickets will be refunded or rolled over to 2022.

Instead of the full festival, they plan to run a Base Camp event over the same 2021 weekend with camping, live music and comedy.

In a statement on the Deer Shed website, Mr Jones said: “Many things remain uncertain for festivals this summer, but the lack of Covid cancellation insurance is the one hurdle we have been unable to clear. Earlier in the year, we were hopeful a government backed Covid insurance scheme would be in place, but we now have no reason to believe it will be despite frantic industry lobbying."

“Deer Shed is still a 100 per cent independent family-owned and run festival, and the risks of running without insurance leave Kate and myself financially exposed well beyond our comfort zone.

“We will of course offer ticket refunds for Deer Shed 11 or roll-overs to Deer Shed 12. We really appreciate those of you who will again be able to support us by rolling over your tickets to 2022.”

For more details visit: https://deershedfestival.com/dsf11postponement/