A weekly Wiltshire town market has been cancelled this weekend due to safety concerns as Storm Bert is forecast to bring heavy weather.

The Saturday Charter Market in Chippenham will be closed “to ensure the safety of our traders and visitors to the High Street” expected 40mph winds.

A yellow weather warning has been issued as Storm Bert is set to hit Wiltshire on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, bringing heavy rain and wind speeds of over 50mph.

Other events, such as the Christmas light switch on in Swindon, have been similarly interrupted by the storm.

Storm Bert is also expected to bring heavy rain through Saturday and Sunday, especially in southern and western parts of the UK.

Jason Kelly, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: “Storm Bert is what we call a ‘multi-hazard event’, bringing snow, rain and wind to the UK for the majority of the weekend. 

“Multiple National Severe Weather Warnings are in place and will be added to and amended over the weekend. 

“It’s possible this may be at short notice, so it is important people keep up to date with the very latest forecast.”

There has been a weekly market in Chippenham since King John first granted a charter to hold one in April 1205, and it and another on Friday are now managed by Chippenham Town Council.