ONE of Colchester’s most popular and creative town centre events has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.... but promised it will strike back next year.

Invasion Colchester, which brings colourful comic book and sci-fi characters to the town each year, has been forced to delay its tenth anniversary edition until 2021.

Previous events have raised more than £60,000 for St Helena Hospice and Colchester and Ipswich Hospital’s Charity as well as creating a huge buzz in shopping precincts, with iconic characters like Batman, Darth Vader and Captain America rolling into town.

Gazette:

A spokesman for Invasion Colchester said: “As we move into the immediate future with a cautious approach, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone Invasion Colchester’s tenth anniversary celebrations originally planned for September 5.

“The new date for the tenth Invasion Colchester event is September 4, 2021, so make a note in your diaries.

“This was not a decision taken lightly, and we’re sorry for everyone who was looking forward to it this year, but with the social distancing measures required to keep everyone safe in place for the foreseeable future, there was no way we could hold Invasion Colchester safely in 2020.”

Organisers are working with Chris Hunt, who runs the Film, TV Music Quiz at the Purple Dog pub, to host a special Marvel Movies Quiz via Facebook, with donations on the night for Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity.

The spokesman added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who give up their time to be part of Invasion Colchester, as well as all of you lovely folk who visit Colchester, donate to our fantastic charities, and have been joining in the fun for the last ten years.”

Several other north Essex events have been cancelled due to pandemic including Colchester Race For Life, Clacton Airshow and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Motorcycle Run.

Visit facebook.com/invasioncolchester.