A REMEMBRANCE festival which has raised thousands of pounds for the Royal British Legion (RBL) has been cancelled this year due to a lack of volunteers.

The RBL's Festival of Remembrance celebrates and raises money for the charity and typically takes place at Weymouth Pavilion in the autumn.

The organiser of the event has announced that the charity event is being cancelled this year due to a lack of volunteers but said that it was still possible that the festival could still return in the future.

A spokeswoman for the festival said: "Dear all. I have today taken the decision to cancel this years Festival of Remembrance. It has not been an easy decision to take, but with fewer volunteers coming forward, the weight of the show, rests on the shoulders of those that remain and it is now at the stage were I can ask them to do no more.

"I would like to thank Anna- Maria and Daniel Geare for their massive contributions over the years and without which the show would not have gone on and the staff at the Pavilion, ever helpful and accommodating.

"We have raised thousands for the Poppy Appeal over the years and for that we should all be very proud.

"It may not be the end for the Festival but for this year it will be rested.

"Thank you everyone who attended and supported this event."

Last year, in October 2021, the festival celebrated its fifth anniversary during the charity's centenary year after it had been cancelled in 2020 due to Covid and raised £3692.01 for the Poppy Appeal with all the money raised going to the local Royal British Legion branch.

The RBL has approximately 7,000 Legion members across the county, with around 30 branches, which are supported by 15 RBL Clubs.

The charity was formed in the aftermath of the First World War to fight for the rights of those who had given so much and come back to so little. Today, the RBL continues to provide life-changing help and support to the Armed Forces community and challenge injustices on their behalf.