A POPULAR attraction in West Devon’s calendar has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

RAF Harrowbeer 1940s weekend — run by RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group — is staged annually at the Yelverton aerodrome and attracts between 10,000 and 15,000 people each year as one of the only 1940s weekends held locally

During the two-day event visitors can see Spitfire re-enactment displays, World War Two re-enactors and living history displays, vintage cars, steam engines and tractors as well as the many vintage stalls.

It began as a special one-off 70th anniversary of the Yelverton airfield in 2011 and then two years later became a free annual 1940s weekend for everyone.

But in 2018 the event coincided with the wettest weekend of the entire summer, which resulted in the Sunday event being cancelled and meant the group lost a substantial amount of money.

Due to this, and other reasons outside of their control, organisers said they had been forced to cancel the 2019 event which was due to be held on August 17 and 18.

Chairman for RAF Harrowbeer 1940s weekend Stephen Fryer said: ‘The dreadful weather that hit us last year has left us with too many issues to resolve in time for this year’s event to go ahead.

‘We hoped to carry on as normal but it has proved impossible. One of the major problems with last year was the loss of income on the Sunday, together with the extra costs associated with the clear-up after the cancellation.’

The cost of the weekend is around £4,000 and is put on thanks to donations and sponsorship from local businesses. And with the cancellation of the Sunday, the group was unable to recoup its losses.

‘Everything was wrecked all around me and displays were knocked over and there was no way we could have carried on for that Sunday and that meant we didn’t get the money from the donations.

‘This has left us with insufficient funds to guarantee we could cover this year’s costs.

‘We certainly didn’t have enough to cover this year’s costs as well as other issues, which meant we have no choice but to cancel.

‘We will work towards running the event again in 2020.’