THE British Open Crabbing Championship at Walberswick has been called off for the second year in a row.

The organisers announced this week that the popular annual event – which draws a huge crowd village – would not be taking place this summer due to problems in providing resources to run the event.

Up until last year, the crabbing contest had run for 30 years. However, it became a victim of its own success as too many people wanted to take part, with organisers citing health and safety concerns, the huge organisational workload and the impact on Walberswick as they cancelled the 2011 event.

Despite a review of the event, it has been decided the event cannot happen again this year.

But organisers say they will look to hold it again next year if possible.

Robin Buncombe, vice-president of the British Open Crabbing Federation said aim of the review was to find ways to the event ' safe and more enjoyable for participants'.

'Part of that review process also addressed resource capabilities and this determined that this summer would see an unprecedented demand on those resources, both local and national. The Olympic Torch Relay, the Olympics and Paralympics, the Lowestoft airshow, the forthcoming Tour of Britain and many other similar events all took place around the time that we would normally hold the Crabbing Championship.

'The decision has not been made lightly... we will continue to actively investigate the viability of future events.'

The crabbing competition dates back to 1981 when Walberswick Youth Club was asked to raise money for the then Blythburgh Hospital. Since then about 20,000 people have taken part and tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for good causes, including the East Anglia's Children's Hospice's Treehouse Appeal in 2010.