Another festive South Ayrshire event has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed.

The Prestwick Business Association announced yesterday evening that the Prestwick Lights Up Christmas event they had planned for Sunday, November 28 will no longer go ahead.

They cited obstacles being put in front of them by South Ayrshire Council and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, making it difficult for their Christmas market to go ahead.

But the final straw was Police Scotland allegedly objecting to the market, on the basis that it "would cause congestion along the Main Street and also the increased security level across the UK."

The Association was only granted permission to go ahead with their market earlier this month on November 3.

The council told them they wouldn't be able to have a light switching on event or a parade due to Covid but they were allowed market stalls, brass bands, a pipe band, the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra and Santa was to be in the town.

However, complications put in front of them by those authorities have led to the Association deciding they can't go ahead with this year's event.

A spokesperson for the Prestwick Business Association said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that the PBA has been faced with having to take a hard decision to cancel the "Prestwick Lights Up Christmas" events planned for Sunday, November 28, 2021.

"As previously reported we have faced many obstacles which have been placed in front of us by South Ayrshire Council and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance which we have tried to overcome at every turn.

"But we have learned today that Police Scotland have also objected to the Market on the grounds that the Market would cause congestion along the Main Street and also the increased security level across the UK.

"It seems South Ayrshire Council just do not want anyone having a Christmas event.

"We are sorry that once again in spite of our best endeavours there will be no light up at Christmas or the Christmas Market."

A Council spokesperson responded: “The safety of the public is always our top priority. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation and recent changes to the terrorist threat level, we have been in discussions with event organisers about their safety measures. Police Scotland also had safety concerns about the proposed Prestwick Christmas Market.”

Earlier this month, South Ayrshire Council announced that there would be no festive lights witching on events due to high prevalence of Covid.

They said they would not able to support any requests for road closures to facilitate organised Christmas lighting switch-on events that would encourage large gatherings of people in constrained places.

At the time, Councillor Chris Cullen, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture said: "I know that many local people look forward to seeing the annual festive light displays, and some may find it disappointing that formal switch-on events can't go ahead this year.  However, coronavirus is still prevalent, and encouraging large groups of people to gather in one area would be irresponsible.

"I'm sure however, that our communities will still be able to enjoy and celebrate safely this festive season."