ORGANISERS of the largest poultry show in Scotland have been forced to cancel their annual event due to the local authority retaining the Peebles Community Centre following the school fire.

Pupils have been receiving face to face teaching in various halls throughout the town and will be going back to Peebles High at the beginning of February.

But Scottish Borders Council has said it will retain the Drill Hall throughout February as a “back up”.

The cancellation means over a thousand birds and their exhibitors from the South of England, Southern and Northern Ireland and the Island of Orkney, will no longer be able to flock into Peebles for the annual competition hosted by Peebles Poultry and Bantam Club on Sunday, February 23.

At a recent committee meeting, members voted unanimously to lay off plans for the 2020 event after failing to secure an alternative venue.

Club president Danny Walkinshaw, said: “It is with regret that due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to cancel our show.

"This is the largest one day show in Scotland with a maximum of a thousand birds.

“The show has been running for 34 years and has grown from strength to strength. It has been a victim of its own success hence we have had a problem finding hall to suit.

“The Drill Hall is home to the Poultry Club but the Council require to retain the hall until March because of the situation with Peebles High School.

"We contacted various venues for the date but none were suitable.”

Anyone interested in joining Peebles Poultry Club is asked to contact the secretary on 01501 751265.