A market and car boot sale which has been run in a Wells pub car park for more than 40 years will be held there for the final time on Monday.

The new landlord of The Captain's Table, formerly The Ark Royal, has told organisers they will no longer be able to hold it at that venue.

Mel Catton, 67, from Wells, who has been organising the events for 41 years, said: 'It's disappointing to have to close it, but the gentleman who runs the pub has his own reasons and that is his prerogative.

'We have no animosity towards him and we wish him every success.

'We hope to be able to find a new venue to get the markets and car boot sales up and running again but that will take a lot of sorting out and we are too far into the season to be able to do that this year.

'We are hopeful of bringing the event back at another venue next year.'

The event originally began as just a market and used to have more than 50 stalls.

It has been run on Saturdays and Sundays between March and the end of October and also on Fridays during busy periods in the town.

Mr Catton said: 'It used to be a really big event in the town and it has become smaller over the last 10 years or so, as these sort of things inevitably do, but it was a regular fixture in Wells and some people will be disappointed that it has closed.

'We hope lots of people will come along to support the final one and to be able to start it up again next year.

'I really want to thank everyone who has supported this event over the years by holding stalls and spending money.

'The community has really supported us and it also attracted visitors from out of town.'