A MUCH- LOVED Lake District festival will be postponed until 2026- with the organisers saying that it will return in a new format due to charity donations 'continually dropping' over the years.

The Lakeland Festival of Light, a major fundraising event for local charities, held on Catbells in Keswick has been postponed until 2026, it's organiser and founder has announced.

The festival was postponed for 2024, due to a yellow weather warning has been placed across Cumbria due to Storm Kathleen causing too many safety risks.

In a statement on social media, Founder and Organiser Matt Le Voi said: "After careful consideration, I have decided the next Lakeland Festival of Light event will take place on 4th April 2026 - yes, 2026.

"This event has been so superb to host over the years, and really has grown bigger than even my imagination would have let me believe when we hosted the first event on Catbells in 2016. I truly love that people travel from all over to be part of it, or to witness it. I also love the fact that the local area will benefit so greatly from the event.

"But, over the years the event has become tougher to run, simply because our efforts are not being rewarded in the fundraising total. Times have clearly changed, as the event is seeing record breaking participation figures, and yet the amount we're able to donate to charity afterwards has been continually dropping.

"I know this post will be followed with comments saying 'You can do this...do that', but ultimately, the fundraising climate has clearly changed and with that the event needs to change with it. (e.g 2019 - est. 2000 people raised £16k. 2024 est 3000 people raised £8.6k)"

Mr Le Voi said the event has been 'totally non for profit' with his time and time of others being given, he said: "It's sad to say, but my desire to run the event has all but dried up and I need some time away from thinking about LFOL to allow that passion to rebuild."

"The event will return as we have some brilliant ideas yet to implement, but it will return in a new format that will hopefully gain the fundraising total it truly deserves."

Mr Le Voi thanked 'everyone who has supported any of the Lakeland Festival of Light Series Events, the marshals that have donated their time to keep people safe, to Paula and David for their help, the photographers, his family and friends who have been dragged in every year to help pull the night off'.