TRAD on the Tyne will not take place this year, after organisers decided to cancel the popular event following the death of key figure Elaine Bruce.

The annual traditional music festival has proved a real crowd favourite and attracted hundreds of people to Haddington in recent years.

As well as live music, youngsters have had the chance to pick up a variety of instruments and learn more about traditional Scottish music.

Elaine, 55, passed away at the end of February and her husband and fellow organiser Alistair felt he could not go ahead with the festival this year.

He told the Courier: “She was absolutely central to the planning, organisation and creation of the festival.

“I stood down from the organising committee and the events committee decided not to hold Trad on the Tyne.” Mr Bruce was unsure if the event, which started in 2010, would return next year.

He added: “The start of the year is really the time of the year where we plan and organise the festival for August.

“It was just impossible this year to do that and the decision was taken not to do it this year.” Last year’s event was headlined by Karine Polwart, Blazin’ Fiddles, the Friel Sisters and Alex Hodgson.

They were then joined by the Victorian Trout Conspiracy and the dynamic duo of Rachel Gray and Amy Low.

At the time, Mr Bruce declared the 2014 festival as the best yet.

On Monday afternoon, he said: “The festivals have been fantastically successful and a real pleasure to work on.

“We’ve had fantastic support from the local community and businesses that have sponsored and helped us.

“We want to thank them because they have been really, really great and for the help they have given us.

“Obviously, it is unfortunate the circumstances now but it has been a terrific project to be involved in and the Haddington Pipe Band have been in the middle of that.” Ward councillor John McMillan, the local authority’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, agreed it was sad that the event had been shelved for 2015 at least.

Mr McMillan described Alistair and Elaine as “the engine room” of the event.

He added: “It really was something that truly catered for the whole of the town.

“It is sad but I really do understand why the decision was made.”