ORGANISERS spoke of their “huge disappointment” when they were forced to cancel a free annual festival which was due to take place today due to coronavirus restrictions.

But the resourceful group quickly came up with an alternative to LagoonFest 2020 and will instead host the Big Picnic in its place.

This year would have been the third annual LagoonFest celebration, with previous years seeing appearances from patron Fatboy Slim (real name Norman Cook) live music and more than 50 stalls at the site of the Hove attraction.

The festival collected funds which were then used to improve the landscape of Hove Lagoon.

But the organisers, Friends of Hove Lagoon, were forced to cancel plans with mass gatherings still strongly advised against under the latest government guidance.

Chairman and Wish ward councillor Robert Nemeth said: “It is with huge disappointment that we have had to cancel LagoonFest 2020.

“However, we are in the process of arranging a number of activities over the next few months to replace the festival and are really looking forward to the Hove Lagoon Big Picnic, which is being held in conjunction with The Social Society.”

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The Lagoon grounds have been separated into “socially distanced picnic hearts” each with space for six people. There will be limited numbers and tickets needed to access the event.