October 8, 2018 9.29 am This story is over 65 months old

Mr Sausage retires before this weekend’s festival

But it might not be the wurst news after all

A much-loved mascot of the Lincoln Sausage Festival has retired just days before the annual event is set to take place.

Mr Sausage has been a popular part of the festival over the past 16 years, but the search is now on for his replacement.

The event organisers announced the sad news on their Facebook page on October 5.

“Unfortunately Mr Sausage has had to retire,” read the event’s announcement.

“We know how popular he has been over the years at the Lincoln Sausage Festival so we hope to have a new apprentice Mr Sausage with us on October 13.”

When The Lincolnite got in touch with the event organisers, they said that they haven’t been able to find an “apprentice chipolata” for this year’s event.

Mark Brewer said: “We hire Mr Sausage but he was looking rather knackered last year. He has been at the festival for the past 16 years.

“So we have decided that he needed a break. We have been interviewing for apprentice chipolatas, but nobody has reached the high standard set by Mr Sausage.

“We can say for sure that he will be definitely returning for the 2019 Lincoln Sausage Festival.”

Fans of the mascot had a big reaction to the social media post:

Sue Taylor commented: “That’s like Easter without the bunny, Valentines Day with[out] Cupid and Christmas without the John Lewis advert… what is going on Lincoln Sausage Festival?”

“This has left a deep deep sausage sized put in my stomach. Goodnight sweet prince,” wrote Christian Lyne.

Others said that the organisers should cancel the festival, because it was “pointless” without Mr Sausage.

Lincoln Sausage Festival will still take place without Mr Sausage on October 13 and it is set to be a banger.

During the day there will be cooking demonstrations, food stalls, children’s entertainment and live music.

Lincoln Castle and the Castle Hill will be filled with stalls selling lots of sausages for people to try and take home.