Villagers enjoy their final three-legged race

10:31pm Monday 31st December 2007

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IT has been a village tradition for more than three decades.

But organisers say this year's charity three-legged race in Edgworth will be the last.

Twelve couples with a leg tied to each together, dashed around the village in fancy dress with collection tins on Friday and raised more than £300 for Cancer Research.

In 2005, 165 pairs took part in the event raising £5,000, but it sparked fears about health and safety which put the future of the fundraiser, which started in 1972, in doubt.

In its heyday, competitors stopped for a drink in every pub on the course and the event would last between noon and midnight, with prizes awarded for the best costume.

Past events had attracted complaints from residents about the behaviour of contestants, while police had expressed fears over crowd control and some of the pubs involved feared the event would break fire regulations.

Last year, the official event was cancelled and an unofficial race took place with six pairs making a stand.

And this year 24 people did their bit, with organiser Gill Ramwell limiting the numbers of participants to avoid any safety problems.

Miss Ramwell, aged 39, of Edgworth, has watched the event since she was a child and has been taking part since her teens.

She said: "Everyone knows someone who has been a victim of cancer and it is close to all our hearts.

"That is why we do this event and people give so generously.

"It is a tradition that has been going for 35 years but each year we come across more and more obstacles and we realise that it is time to move on.

"It will be a sad loss for the village but next year we will organise something different to raise money for the charity."

Those taking part visited several pubs in the village to collect cash, and also asked their bosses to donate money to the good cause.

Miss Ramwell added: "Everyone was asking if the event was on this year and we had to tell them it wasn't to avoid having too many people turning up."