The director of a popular multicultural festival says he is "committed" to hosting the event once again after it was postponed due to "deplorable" violence across the country.
The Middlesbrough Mela, which is now in its 34th year, was set to take place this weekend but was put on hold following riots in the town and elsewhere in the North East earlier this month.
Director Kash Patel said the decision was "not an easy one" but said public safety "was paramount" and that bosses "couldn’t take the risk of going ahead so soon after the unrest".
More than 50,000 people were expected to attend the flagship event, which sees Albert Park welcome entertaining live music, a stall bazaar, and a range of delicious food.
Its postponing was met with both upset and understanding, with one person saying: “It angers me that this event that has been going for many years is to be postponed, I hope it is just pushed back a few weeks and not until next year.
"I understand why, but we cannot let the mindless thugs and their ideals prevail and win the day”
Mr Patel has now released a new statement, saying teams are "working around the clock" to sort a new date for the event, which is set to be announced "very soon".
He said: "The decision to postpone was not an easy one and took days of deliberation. On the one hand we wanted to stand in solidarity to show we wouldn’t let such actions cause disruption yet on the other public safety was paramount.
"Even a week later the decision to postpone plays heavy on the heart but we just couldn’t take the risk of going ahead so soon after the unrest.
“The priority right now is to galvanise and rebuild a stronger unified community. Both residents of the town and indeed the nation are waiting to see how we achieve this.
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"As such I am already inviting consultation with our local politicians, police and policy makers to discuss how we can embed real cultural cohesion via the platform of Mela.
“It's social, political and economic impact on the region is greater than it has ever been in its 34 year history and now is the time to celebrate and highlight that collectively through community.
"I am committed to bringing back Mela bigger and better than ever before and working around the clock to do this. I will be guided by the intel and hopefully can announce a new date very soon.”
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