FUNFAIRS in the city have been cancelled by Southampton City Council following coronavirus rule changes.

Events were due to be held at Riverside Park, Veracity Ground, Mansel Park and Southampton Common, but will now not go ahead.

It comes after a "thorough review" of new regulations published by the Government which set in place the "rule of six", which prohibits members of the public from gathering in numbers.

All other events due to take place on council land between now and the end of October have also been cancelled.

The council says its senior management team and director of public health felt that risks would be too high.

Mary D’Arcy, Executive Director for Communities, Culture and Homes said: “Despite the best efforts of the organisers of these fairs who have worked hard to provide a Covid-secure environment, the council cannot with good conscience allow events involving large numbers of people to take place on our land.

"These could lead to unnecessary mingling of people and potentially lead to groups of more than six coming into contact with each other, breaking the Government’s ‘rule of six’.

"It is extremely regrettable therefore that we will be cancelling these funfairs.

"Our priority has to be keeping local infection levels of Covid-19 to a minimum, thereby protecting our residents, and doing all we can to avoid a damaging local lockdown.

"With large numbers of children and young people expected to attend the fairs, we are especially keen to minimise the chances of transmission among this demographic, particularly in school-age children.

"We will do all we can to minimise the chances of outbreaks in our schools, which could lead to closures and even more disruption to pupils and parents.”