Tickets sales have been postponed for this year’s Presteigne Festival because of the coronavirus crisis.

Originally, the plan was to open online and postal ticket sales on Tuesday, April 28, but this has had to change.

“It is essential for us to follow UK Government and Welsh Assembly advice and, more importantly, to prioritise the safety and welfare of our audience, volunteers, host community, staff and performing artists,” the organisers said in the festival’s latest newsletter.

The Presteigne Festival is supposed to take place from Thursday, August 27, to Tuesday, September 1 – and there remains a chance it will go ahead.

The newsletter said: “The board and festival team are working tirelessly, looking at options for the delivery of all or part of the 2020 Festival. Obviously, our dearest wish is to retain as much of the live programme as we possibly can but, should conditions limit us, we are also looking into the possibility of commissioning original sound and video content.

“If restrictions are lifted in time and it is possible to safely stage the August Festival as planned, online and postal ticket sales will open in early June.”

Copies of the 2020 Presteigne Festival brochure have been sent to addresses all over the UK and the updated brochure is also available on the festival website. This year’s lineup includes the likes of violinist Chloë Hanslip, the Carducci Quartet and composer-in-residence Tarik O’Regan.

“We will keep you informed when important decisions are made but, in the meantime, we hope you are managing to limit the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that we will soon be able to meet again to share our mutual love for music and the arts.”