Storm Bert halts or scales back Christmas events

Christmas light switch-on events have been, cancelled, postponed or scaled back as Storm Bert is expected to strike.

Torrential rain and wind gusts of 70mph have been predicted for Saturday. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings across the country.

The Worcester lantern parade and the Bromsgrove Christmas light switch-on and St John's market are among those cancelled.

Other events in Warwickshire and Staffordshire and the Ironbridge lights switch-on have been reduced or pushed back until another date.

"We have made the difficult decision to cancel our Bromsgrove Christmas Light Switch On event, tomorrow, Saturday 23rd November," the district council said.

"Following an extensive assessment of the weather forecast and coordination with our contractors, the impact of the expected wind speeds and gusts were deemed potentially unsafe for temporary structures."

A scaled-down version of the Christmas lights switch-on will run in Malvern on Saturday with events taking place until about 17:00 GMT. The lights switch-on will still take place at 17:30.

A post on the Ironbridge lights Facebook page said organisers were coordinating with contractors to move the event to Saturday 30 November.

Whitchurch Town Council said their switch-on would still go ahead at 16:00 GMT but afternoon entertainment and market would move to the Market Hall.

Children's fairground rides will operate subject to weather conditions.

Warwickshire County Council said Warwick Market and Leamington Christmas Market had both been cancelled "with everyone's safety in mind".

Nuneaton's Street Market will also run at a reduced capacity due to the forecasted high winds.

Traders will work from their vehicles only, said Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

Plans for the Bedworth Christmas Lights switch-on event have been scaled back.

"Alternative dates were considered with a view to rescheduling the event, but without promise the weather will improve, and the availability of traders means the event will go ahead but with changes for safety reasons," the council said.

Stalls have been moved indoors, with Bedworth Covered Market open between 08:00 GMT and 14:00.

The lights will be switched on at All Saints Church from 18:00 GMT.

Tamworth Borough Council have decided to push back their event to Saturday 7 December.

Organisers behind the Santa's Arrival Parade and Christmas event in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent have also moved celebrations indoors.

The parade will be relocated inside The Potteries Centre.

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