By hook or by crook, organisers of a charity pirate treasure hunt say they were determined not to let Covid-19 cancel their event.

Following the success of their inaugural hunt last summer , Deal Rotary Pirates have devised a 'Plan B' to allow them to go ahead with their family fun event in 2020.

Instead of a mass gathering of people dressed in fancy dress, foraging for hidden clues around the town, on one day only, members are instead launching a new hunt which can be completed at any time over the coming months.

Four socially distanced pirates will help launch the new trail from the Landmark Garden from 10am until 2.30pm on Saturday, September 19.

The new maps will then be available for £5 over the bar at the Landmark Centre, with the money raised going to help community causes.

Rotary Pirates member Simon Pollard said: "We've been plotting in silence over the summer and we wanted to adapt the event rather than cancel it.

"This way, people can still engage in the hunt if they choose to do so.

"Families can police themselves and any contribution they make will still go towards Rotary Community Trust and the Landmark Centre.

"We plan to run it for the foreseeable future."

The answers will also be available from the Landmark Centre at the end of the trail.

Rotary Pirates is a newly formed association, set up to encourage younger members into the Deal branch, where the average age of members is 80-plus.

For more information contact Simon on 07970414784 or search @RotaryPiratesDeal on Facebook

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