THREE charities including two that care for people with life-limiting illnesses will lose money from the Ludlow Dog Day that this year has been cancelled because of Covid-19.

Although the event is not scheduled until July the Ludlow Rotary Club has decided to cancel its big fund raiser at Stokesay Court.

It would have been the seventh dog day and had been scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 19.

Last year the event attracted more than 3,000 people and raised more than £20,000 for the charities.

This will mean that the Hope House Hospice, St Michael’s Hospice and the Guide Dogs for the Blind will go without.

Extensive planning had been done for the event this year but because of the restrictions that are likely to remain in some form or other for many months, it was decided to call a halt now.

Ludlow Rotarians say that this will mean that it will not be able to help the charities that had been identified to benefit.

The club would also like to place on record its thanks to the many people and organisations who had offered support, in particular its main sponsors: Hatfield Jaguar, Ludlow Homecare, Hobson’s Brewery and Teme Vets. It also thanks Stokesay Court that has hosted the event since it started.

Had the dog day gone ahead it would have provided vital funds for St Michael’s Hospice, in Hereford that works to help patients and their families adjust to the inevitable changes that life-limiting illnesses bring.

Hope House, is a charity committed to supporting young people and their families in Shropshire, Cheshire, Mid and North Wales, and to help them be as comfortable, happy and fulfilled as they can be, will also lose out.

So will Guide Dogs for the Blind founded in 1934. Guide Dogs helps blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services.

It is hoped to hold the event in 2021.