A children's pancake race has been cancelled due to the rising cost of public liability insurance, claimed a report.
The annual race, held in Okehampton, Devon, has been cancelled because of a 273% increase in the cost of insurance. Organiser Derek Godfrey-Brown said he obtained cover for £75 in 2003, but the lowest quote he was offered this year was £280.
Children from Okehampton Primary School participate in the race in the town centre because there is insufficient room on the school premises, said the report. Devon County Council said that were the event held on the school grounds it would be covered by the school's insurance.
Godfrey-Brown said: "These premiums will inevitable impinge on smaller events like this and put people off organising them." He said he was hopeful the event would be reinstated next year if a sponsor could be found.
ABI spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: "You could blame Britain's increasing compensation culture. It is all down to the rise in personal injury claims being made and the size of compensation awards by the courts which are increasing the rate by 15% a year."
He added: "Insurers are keen to limit premium increases because they don't want to be in a position of withdrawing cover, but over the past decade, liability insurance has become an underwriting loss."
