Fairies will be folding their wings and stashing their wands next year as organisers behind a major Norfolk success story take a breather.

The hugely-popular summer Fairy Fair and autumn Real Halloween events will not go ahead in 2017 to allow organisers The Fairyland Trust time to plan for the future.

The news comes on the eve of this year's Real Halloween weekend at Holt Hall, which is expected to attract thousands of wee witches and wizards to take part in nature-themed fun on October 29 and 30.

And it coincides with the trust exceeding its first £20,000 in a fundraising appeal to buy a piece of land with low nature value, which it plans to re-sow with wildflowers, creating a place for families to enjoy, as their great-grandparents did in the days before intensive farming.

Chris Rose, director of the Fairyland Trust, said: 'What we do is popular and it works but it's really under-resourced.

'Even Glastonbury has to take a year off sometimes and we do too. After 15 years we have a treasure trove of ideas and activities which we'd love to develop but we can't unless we give ourselves a breathing space'.

The self-funded trust, whose mission is to introduce children to the magic of nature, is also hoping to use next year to go 'on tour' with travelling workshops.

Activities are led by co-ordinator Sarah Wise and a small team of volunteers and organisers want to spend time next year fundraising to keep events affordable in a difficult economic climate which has seen site-hire costs rise.

The annual Fairy Fair and Real Halloween are estimated to have attracted more than 150,000 children since 2001.

Have you got a Norfolk success story? Contact alex.hurrell@archant.co.uk