THE popular BBC History Magazine's History Weekend that took place annually in Malmesbury, has been relocated to Winchester, in a move that has devastated the town.

The news came as a shock to the town council who had already printed their festival guides for distribution, which included the history festival.

Thousands of people have descended on Malmesbury over the past three years for the weekend’s historical lectures and talks.

Immediate Media, the company who organise the history weekends, reportedly moved the festival due to the restricted venue sizes in Malmesbury.

Town Council member Councillor Sue Poole was chairwoman of the community and town promotion committee during the time the festival was hosted in the town.

She says the event had “outgrown” the town.

“They wanted bigger venues than we could not provide, we’re only a small town,” she said.

“Some of the events could have sold-out twice over.

“The abbey was our largest venue by miles; there was just nowhere in the town big enough to accommodate how big the festival had become.

“They didn’t think it was going to get as big as it became. In the first year almost everything was sold-out.”

The organisers had already provisionally booked the venues in the town for the festival this year and pulled the plug after the town council had sent off leaflets to be printed advertising the event.

“We only found out about it a month ago,” continued Cllr Poole.

“The venues were provisionally booked and the leaflets have already gone to print.

“It’s a shame because we genuinely thought they’d be coming back.

“We are so sorry to lose them. In some ways we’re victim of our success.”

Immediate Media had been contacted for a comment but have yet to provide one.