THIS year’s Disability Awareness Day has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Having previously been set to take place at Walton Hall and Gardens , DAD 2020 will now take place from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, September 27.

Dave Thompson, chief executive and cofounder of event organisers Warrington Disability Partnership, said: “The organising team behind the UK’s largest voluntary-led pan disability exhibition have been closely monitoring updates on guidance relating to covid-19.

“The health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and our team is always our number one priority – this is particularly important given the communities that DAD involves.

“Many of our visitors are themselves some of the most vulnerable in society.

“This, combined with the fact that health, social care and third sector workers – who make up a significant number of our exhibitors – will be crucial to ongoing containment and management of the pandemic, means that we have taken the decision to postpone our 29th anniversary event until September.

“Of course, this will be dependent on the government lifting the ban on large social gatherings and other measures that may affect the holding of the event.

“We feel that it is the right decision given the impending position – we are in ongoing communication with our sponsors, suppliers, exhibitors and partners.

“Everyone we have spoken to so far has been very understanding and support our decision.

“All bookings made for our original date of the July 12 will be automatically transferred.”

The rescheduled event will be one hour shorter than previously planned in order to give volunteers an opportunity to clean up the park before the sun sets.