Coronavirus: Hartlepool's world record bid and more events postponed as shutdown continues

Hartlepool charity Miles for Men was organising the bid to get the most people together in one place wearing odd socks to raise awareness for Down's syndrome on Saturday, March 21.

It was inspired by and to involve six-year-old Bella Gill who has Down’s syndrome and her family on World Down’s Syndrome Day.

But following the increasing measures and advice to protect people from coronavirus, Miles for Men announced: “It comes with great sadness that we have unfortunately had to cancel our odd sock event which was to take place this Saturday, March 21.

“Our main concern is the health and well-being of all of our supporters!”

The attempt at Middleton Grange shopping centre will now be held at a later date.

Instead, a small coffee morning on Saturday will be held at the Extra Mile shop which customers are invited to support in aid of the T21 Down’s syndrome group.

Hartlepool’s March of the Mods music fundraiser which was due to take place on Saturday, March 28, has also been postponed until a date to be decided.

The Heugh Battery Museum on the Headland, which tells the story of the Bombardment of Hartlepool, has also closed for the time being.

The museum said: “It is not a decision we have found easy to take, but in the fast moving scenario we find ourselves in we felt it the right thing to do.

“We really hope to be able to reinstate our VE Day Street Party (May 10) and rearrange the Military Vehicle Event (April 11) for later in the year.”

But as of 11am on Wednesday, March 18, the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool remains open to visitors.

Director General Professor Dominic Tweddle said they are continuing to follow and monitor official guidance to implement recommendations for precautionary measures, and further updates will follow as the situation changes.

An event at the museum on Tuesday, March 24, by Hartlepool Carers to launch a new carer’s card has been cancelled.