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The company that won the contract to deliver Edinburgh's Christmas festival has pulled out.

Angels Event Experience Limited told City of Edinburgh Council it would not be able to fulfil the contract it was awarded in June.

The local authority said the festival had not been cancelled and discussions had begun on how to deliver the event.

The city's Christmas festival is due to run from 18 November to 3 January.

A partnership between Unique Events and Assembly Festival, called Unique Assembly, announced earlier this year that it had won the contract for this year's Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations.

Unique Assembly had bid for both the Edinburgh's Christmas and Edinburgh Hogmanay events.

Angels Event Experience Limited won the Edinburgh Christmas contract.

Unique Assembly is now expected to put a proposal to the council on how the Christmas festival can be rescued.

Council leader Cammy Day said: "Positive discussions are ongoing around delivering Edinburgh's Christmas this year.

"I'm confident we'll be able to offer a great programme, including the Christmas markets, funfair and some exciting new attractions.

"We'll make a further announcement early next week once councillors from all parties have had the chance to view the plans."

Angels Event Experience had been awarded the contract for three years, with two optional 12-month extensions, at a total estimated rental income value to the council of £5,473,500.

The company also runs Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London.

Plans for this year had not been revealed. Numbers were expected to exceed previous years because no Christmas market is planned in Glasgow.

More than 2.6 million people visited in 2019.

Edinburgh's Christmas festival has previously featured activities including a market, fairground, family attractions and an ice rink.