Helston Flora Day Association has said it takes the health and safety of visitors "very seriously" as it considers how to plan next year's event.

The committee has issued a brief statement following the news that Flora Day 2020 will coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the moved bank holiday.

The government has decided to delay the May Day holiday to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marks the day when fighting against Nazi Germany came to an end in Europe during the Second World War.

Instead of Monday, May 4, when it would have fallen, the public holiday will be that Friday, May 8 – which as every Helstonian knows, is the day of Flora Day.

The Flora Day Association said last night that it would now be meeting next month to discuss how to approach the coinciding events.

The committee added: "In the meantime, we will be liaising with other local organisations such as Helston Town Council, Helston Town Band, Cornwall Council, the police, South Kerrier Alliance, and RNAS Culdrose to ascertain what other planned events, either national or local that may be planned on May 8, 2020.

"Once all parties have been consulted, a statement will be released.

"The Flora Day Association has a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of the public for all events that take place on Flora Day each year and takes this responsibility very seriously through our safety framework."

It is only the time second ever that the May Day bank holiday has been moved, after it was changed from May 1 to the following Monday, May 8, in 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day.

However, in that year it would have had little bearing to Flora Day as it still fell on a Monday – when by tradition Flora Day is never held, due to it historically being the town’s market day. As a result, on that occasion the event would have been held on the preceding Saturday anyway.

Announcing next year’s date change, business secretary Greg Clark said: "It will ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to remember and honour our heroes of the Second World War and reflect on the sacrifices of a generation."