Gourock Garden Party has been called off for the second year in a row

Organiser George Irvine says the team were left with no choice but to cancel one of the town's longest running events.

The garden party has been a firm favourite for more than 50 years.

But in recent years there have been growing fears over its future because of a lack of funding.

Now George hopes it will be third time lucky and the town's big day out will come back in 2022 bigger and better than ever before.

George said: "People are missing the garden party.

"But with uncertainty over social distancing and numbers allowed in, there is no way we could organise it.

"We also don't know how many people could have taken stalls, or if we could have had entertainment.

"We are so disappointed to have to cancel and I really hope we can get it back up and running for next year.

"I also hope we can find more funding from somewhere."

Two years ago plans for the garden party were disrupted because of funding problems.

Back in 2019 town councillor Lynne Quinn and others stepped in to make sure the show would go on, albeit with a scaled back version.

This year's event was due to have taken place on Sunday June 20 this year, but the ongoing Covid crisis has put paid to it.

The event takes place in the Walled Garden at Gourock Park with local entertainment, stalls, events and awards handed out and the money raised from entry at the gate is split with local charities.