A message from The Brentford Canal Festival planning group and Brentford Voice:

After much agonising thought and consideration, we have decided to defer this year's Brentford Canal Festival.

With the latest addition of a new variant of concern first identified in India to Hounslow, and the uncertainty to the government's position yet to be announced on June 14 we felt that we had to put our community's welfare as our priority.

We understand this will be a disappointment to many after what has been a long and arduous period for us all.

However, it is a deferral and not a cancellation. So, we will be back in 2022 with what we hope will be a safer, bigger and better Brentford Canal Festival, which will become the platform for a cracking annual Brentford event!

We will continue to develop our ideas and plans, which we'll keep you informed via our website when launched and social media.

We would also welcome your thoughts and suggestions as to how we can make this a great event for all.

We are looking at creating a taster event before or around Christmas once we have better defined guidelines from the government. Again we'll keep you informed, so do keep a watchful eye out on local and social media.

We do hope you understand that this decision wasn't reached lightly.

We have a great opportunity here in Brentford which you've demonstrated hugely in your support and enthusiasm in the run up to the planned event, and it's that community which has been forefront and centre in the decision to defer for one year.

Stay safe and hope to see you all very soon.

Many thanks

The Brentford Canal Festival planning group and Brentford Voice.