COUNCIL bosses have suspended events in parks and open spaces until July due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Maldon District Council announced the decision, which affects all events, park runs, funfairs and gatherings of people in its parks and open spaces.

Promenade Park will remain open, but the splash park and beach huts will close.

Seasonal attractions such as the petting zoo will also not operate until July at the earliest.

May’s Maldon Mud Run had already joined the long list of events cancelled due to the outbreak.

The annual event, which attracts hundreds of runners and thousands of spectators every year to the banks of the River Blackwater, will return in 2021.

Organisers said: “We have been monitoring closely the developments relating to the spread of Covid-19 and taking note of updates and advice issues by the UK Government, the World Health Organisation and other UK public bodies.

“Runners can choose to transfer their entries to the 2021 race.”

The Essex Book Festival has also been cancelled by organisers.

They said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we have taken the decision to cancel the final events of this year’s Essex Book Festival.

“The safety of our audiences, artists and festival team is of paramount importance to us.

“While we will not be able to reschedule all of our events, we will do everything within our power to reschedule as many as possible.

“The list is already growing of those artists and writers willing and able to return to Essex later in the year.”