A POPULAR RNLI ball has been postponed due to Covid-19.

The annual Burnham RNLI lifeboat ball was due to be held at the Batch Country House in Lympsham this Saturday but organisers said measures introduced by the Government to protect people against Covid-19 have made hosting the event ‘impossible.’

The ball is a popular event in Band raises thousands of pounds for the RNLI each year.

A spokesperson for Burnham RNLI said: This coming Saturday would have seen the regular Burnham RNLI lifeboat ball, held at the Batch Country Hotel in Lympsham.

“Unfortunately, Covid 19 safe distancing and the other safety measures made running the ball this year impossible.

“As well as being a prestigious event in the local calendar, the ball had also become a major local fundraiser for Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat station volunteers, with last year’s ball raising over £5,000.”

The RNLI is run entirely by volunteers who risk their lives to help others.

The charity relies on the generosity of the public to keep going with 93 per cent of its total income coming from donations and 7 per cent coming from income sources including trading and investments.

RNLI Helmsman, Tim Walters, lead organiser of the ball said: “It’s all postponed with Batch, we were initially looking at a year off next year and then a build up to our 20th anniversary a year or two after that.

“However we will now look to hold one next year with a date and details to be announced.”