ORGANISERS of Alton’s Jane Austen Regency Week 2020 have not yet given up hope on this year’s event, set to run from June 20 to 28.

It is acknowledged the current crisis could have a “marked effect” on the event; with a scaled-down version in June, a postponement until later in the year or putting the whole thing on ice until 2021 all being considered.

For these reasons, a full printed programme has not yet been published, although details are on the website, and ticket sales have been suspended.

However, organisers are not planning ‘at this juncture’ to refund existing ticket holders, and have instead vowed to ‘review the situation’.

In a statement, the Regency Week organisers said: "To all those who have bought tickets for Jane Austen Regency Week 2020.

"Although JARW 2020 is still three months away we are aware that the current crisis over the coronavirus could have a marked effect on our plans.

"At this moment in time we do not know which events might be able to go ahead and which might need to be cancelled; whether we could run a scaled down version in June or postpone the ’Week’ until later in the year; or indeed whether we might have to put the whole thing on ice until 2021.

"For these reasons we are not presently publishing a full printed programme although all the events are organised and the details are online.

"We are not planning at this juncture to refund tickets or to sell any more but will review the situation when and if it becomes clear that events will have to be cancelled.

"We are grateful for your loyalty over the years and hope that we may yet be able to celebrate the 2020 Jane Austen Regency Week in style."