Two alternative plans are being drawn up for Dawlish's 2021 Carnival Week, to fit in with whatever Covid restrictions might still be in place from August 14 to August 20.

But Dawlish Celebrates Carnival have already confirmed that there won't be a carnival parade or 'glow show' – because other local carnivals, which would have brought their floats to Dawlish, have cancelled their processions.

The committee are focusing on events to be held on the Lawn.

In a video posted on the Dawlish Celebrates Carnival website and Facebook page, the chair of the committee Angie Weatherhead said: "We're still planning for fun, but it's really uncertain at the moment."

The committee are drawing up a Plan A, which is what they hope to do if all the restrictions are lifted, and a Plan B, which takes into account some element of social distancing and/or a limit on numbers.

Natioally, all the Covid restrictions are provisionally scheduled to be lifted on June 21 – but only if all the Government targets for reducing the rate of infection and rolling out vaccinations have been met.

The Dawlish carnival committee will be guided by the Government's Events Research Programme which will form the basis for decisions on all large-scale events.

The difficult decision to call off the parade and glow show

In their statement on their website and page, the committee say:

"We know this (the decision not to hold a parade or glow show) will be a massive disappointment as over the last few years our parade has been spectacular, and we have had a growing audience for the glow show. Why have we taken this decision?

"Dawlish Celebrates Carnival is part of the South Devon Carnival Association and many of the carnivals bring their wonderful floats to Dawlish. This year we know already that five carnivals have cancelled their processions and several more will not be having any floats this year to bring out to Dawlish.

"This is a significant issue for how the parade looks – in addition to the showstoppers of Ramage Mas, stilt walkers, Spark! and other entertainment we have to give the parade, a wonderful atmosphere is bought in.

"Our parade entertainment costs alone were nearly £9000 in 2019 and the glow show a similar figure.

"We know businesses and families have had it tough over the last year and won't be able to support us in 2021 as they did in the past to raise these funds. In 2019 carnival as a whole cost nearly £60,000. So as a committee it seems sensible not to try and put on a parade which would only disappoint, and that's if it is possible."

The committee – many of whom have also been working hard as volunteer marshals at the Covid vaccination centre at Dawlish Hospital - will be continuing to plan over the next few months, and will make further announcements when they can.