THE coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation of region's biggest annual booksale.

Every year thousands of hardbacks and paperbacks are sold during the Tweeddale Peace Group Book Sale weekend.

And almost as many CDs and DVDs also change hands.

But organisers decided earlier this week that the threat of COVID-19 was too big a risk.

Julian Goodacre from Tweeddale Peace Group told us: "We look forward to this event all year and have been optimistically holding on, unwilling to postpone it.

"This has been a very difficult decision for us.

"Ultimately though, we agreed that it was a responsible one to take both for our volunteers and the public in the current worrying climate of concern about public health and safety.

"It’s a hugely enjoyable gathering and a lot of people are going to be disappointed."

Books are collected all year round for the annual sale.

And organisers estimate they have around 15,000 titles which were due to be sold at the Burgh Hall.

They also have around 5,000 CDs and DVDs.

Mr Goodacre added: "The books, CDs and DVDs are safely in our storeroom and the booksale will go ahead later in the year.

"The Burgh Hall is now booked for the weekend of September 19, 20 and 21, when we hope this virus is less of a threat."

Since the Tweeddale Peace Group Book Sale was first organised by the late Peter Norris in 1987, it has raised more than £210,000 for peace and justice charities throughout the world.