Otley suffered a second major blow when the organisers of the town's annual carnival decided to cancel the event because of the foot and mouth crisis.

The decision to scrap the June 16 event, which last year attracted almost 35,000 people from all over West Yorkshire, comes just a month after this year's Otley Show was axed because of the crisis.

Carnival publicity officer Bryan Dexter said the decision had been taken with a heavy heart but after much

deliberation the committee decided that holding the carnival this year would not be appropriate.

He said: "Otley is a countryside and farming town and at the end of the day we just couldn't justify bringing in 30,000 people with the foot and mouth crisis still going on.

"If a farm in the town suffered an

outbreak immediately after the

carnival, we wouldn't be able to live with ourselves.

"We also felt that it was inappropriate to use the field at the back of the

auction mart because of the risks. A stand-by site next to Garnett's Mill fell through because Leeds City Council said we couldn't use it, probably because of foot and mouth.

"We are seven weeks off and we left this decision as long as we dare. We just hope that the people of Otley understand why we have made this decision and will continue to back us in future years. It is our aim to come back bigger and better next year."

Unlike Otley Show, which faces a £20,000 bill after cancelling May's event, carnival organisers had not committed to any major expenses like publishing programmes and will possibly only lose a couple of hundred pounds.

Carnival committee chairman Derek Mason said that the eight bands booked for the procession have been cancelled and that people who were running floats - some of whom had already started work on them - were notified yesterday.

"We did look at holding a watered down version by just having the parade so we wouldn't have to use the field, but then there's a question of what do you do with all these people after the parade. If you're going to do it, you have to do it properly.

"Nobody was happy to make this

decision and we hope people understand. It is disappointing for all concerned, but we will be back bigger and better next year."

The carnival was to have been held on a Saturday this year instead of a Sunday because it would have clashed with an international one day cricket match at Headingley.

A date has already been set for next year's Otley Carnival - Saturday June 15, 2002.

Otley Mayor Councillor Christine Campbell, said it was a blow for the town.

"I feel really sorry for all the committee who work hard all year round, all the schoolchildren and everyone else involved with the carnival. It will leave a big gap, it is one of the highlights of the Otley year."

Coun Campbell, who spent many years on the carnival committee, added: "I think they have made the right

decision.

"If it had gone ahead it would have only been six or seven weeks away and it doesn't look as if the foot and mouth crisis will be over by then."

President of Otley Chamber of Trade, Jonathan Rutter, said: "Clearly it is

disappointing that such a high profile event for the town has been cancelled but it is totally understandable given the current situation with foot and mouth disease.

"It is another example of how the crisis is affecting the wider economy in rural communities."

Askwith Show, which was also due to take place in June, has also been

cancelled.

l Meanwhile, Arthington Show

committee will make a decision on Monday evening whether to go ahead with its annual event in July.

If the show goes ahead, it is likely to only feature equine events. Weeton Show is also due to make a decision shortly on whether to run an event this year.

Guiseley, Horsforth and Yeadon Carnivals will all be going ahead as planned.