Dorchester's annual town meeting will not be delayed in the hope that Covid will have subsided enough for it to physically go ahead.

Legally the town council could delay the meeting, which allows residents to have their say on anything that they like, until June 1. The meeting is normally held in March.

But town councillors have decided that it might be best to go ahead with the planned date on March 29 and to hold the meeting online – rather than delay in the hope that things improve and then have to cancel.

The council had hoped to make more of the event this year with exhibition stands to try and promote interest and discussion – but has now conceded defeat and will defer the re-vamped town meeting until 2022.

Cllr Stella Jones said that 2022 might be the better option as it would also allow the council to showcase changes to the Municipal Buildings, which will be completed by then.