Penshaw Bowl 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus - popular Sunderland Easter event will not take place this year

Council chiefs have confirmed the Penshawl Bowl will not go ahead in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Sunderland City Council said in a statement: “Following careful consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel Penshaw Bowl and the Active Sunderland Festival, which was due to take place at Herrington Country Park on Thursday April 9.

“We understand that this news will be disappointing but hope everyone will appreciate that the health and wellbeing of our communities is at the forefront of our decision making process. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year.”

The UK Government is expected to introduce a ban on mass gatherings as part of efforts to cope with the outbreak.

Scores of major sporting and cultural events have already been cancelled in response to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said all people in the UK should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres, stop all non-essential contact and travel, and work from home if they can.

The Prime Minister set out the need for "drastic action" to tackle the "fast growth" of coronavirus across the country as increased social distancing measures are introduced.

As part of the measures, anyone living in a household with somebody who has either a persistent cough or fever must also isolate themselves for 14 days.

People should also avoid groups and crowded places