A MAJOR Lakeland sports event due to take place in summer has been cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ambleside Sports, which was scheduled for July, sees huge crowds descend on Rydal Park, just north of Ambleside, each year for a day of fell running, wrestling, hound trailing and more.

An event spokesman said: "We hope that life might be a little more 'normal' by July, but we can't meet to make plans, and we can't commit ourselves - and others - to spend money with all this uncertainty.

"We will be back next year bigger and better than ever."

Jak Hirst, president of Ambleside Sports, said there was a "glimmer of hope" that if the Government once again gave the go-head to public gatherings by the end of June, an "event of some kind" could still be held.