Ongar residents are facing a less than usually festive start to the festive season this year following the announcement that the town's popular Christmas Capers event has been cancelled.

Previous years have seen hundreds of revellers pack the area around Manor Square to see the town's Christmas lights switched on by local celebrities including boxer Frank Bruno.

Those soaking up the Yuletide atmosphere at past celebrations have been treated to free mince pies, mulled wine, carol singing displays, and a personal appearance by Santa.

But a flyer distributed to local businesses by event organisers the Ongar Town Partnership looks to have pulled the plug on future celebrations.

This states: "It is with regret that we have to announce at this juncture that we do not intend to proceed with Christmas Capers this year."

Reasons given for the cancellation include a shortage of sponsorship funding, a lack of co-operation from traders, and a "serious depletion" of the number of active members in the Partnership.

OTP acting chairman David Powell said: "We will do our utmost to ensure that there will be tree and Christmas lights in the town for this year."

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

Brought to you by the Essex Chronicle