This year’s Machen Mountain Race has been cancelled over health and safety fears.
The annual race sees more than 200 runners take part and is considered to be one of the UK’s top fell-running events since it first began 30 years ago.
It was to have taken place on August 30.
A statement on the Machen Welfare Association website reads: “Unfortunately, due to health and safety concerns raised by Caerphilly County Borough Council and the police, the Machen Mountain Race will not take place this year (2011).
“We are very disappointed that this is the case and whilst we understand the concerns raised about the race (particularly the crossing of the main road in Machen) it is a real shame that our increasingly litigious society has impacted upon what had become a successful and happy event.
“We will be working through 2011/12 to see if an alternative route for the race can be developed which would address the concerns of all those involved and allow us to reinstate the race in the future.”
The council and Gwent Police both raised issues over the event’s route which crosses the A468 in Machen.
A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Highway safety was the main concern raised by the council and Gwent Police, as without appropriate measures in place to control traffic at the start/end stages of the race there were significant safety concerns about the event.”
A Gwent Police spokesman said: “Our traffic management met with the council on July 21 and basically advised not to cancel the race but to either make a road closure order or choose a different route for the race because the A468 is a dangerous road.
“They were only given advice and were not told to cancel the race at all.”