PEMBROKE Dock’s much-loved lantern parade, the highlight of the town’s annual Winter Festival has been cancelled due to new rules on the regulations of parades.

Concerns had recently been expressed that the colourful lantern parade, which attracts hundreds to view the spectacle of beautiful locally made lanterns lighting up the town’s streets, was under threat due to a lack of stewards.

Following fears for the future of the parade raised at a recent meeting of the town council, many volunteers came forward for the December 9 event, which takes place between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

However, the town council has now found out the parade will not be able to be held in its traditional form.

Pembroke Dock Town Clerk Sarah Scourfield said: “Due to new rules and regulations for parades, the Winter Festival in Pembroke Dock on Friday December 9 has been revised.

“All lanterns should be collected from the Pater Hall from 5.30pm on the evening of Friday December 9 and children should line the pavements of Dimond Street to light the way for Father Christmas to come through.

“Parents can then take their children down to Western Way carpark to then enjoy the entertainment from Cleddau FM and Samba Doc with a firework finale.

“There will be no parade as in previous years so the pickup point for all lanterns will be the Pater Hall, Lewis street entrance.”

As in previous years, there will still be a chance for youngsters to take part in lantern-making workshops, being held in Pembroke Dock’s Bush Street youth centre on December 3 and 4.

The workshops, open to all ages, run from 11am-3pm.

The workshops are supported by the town council and have recently benefitted from materials supplied by the recently-opened B&M store on London Road.