Over the past three decades thousands of competitors, young and old, have hauled in countless crustaceans as they try to win the title of British open crabbing champion.

Sadly for fans of crab catching, this summer's annual championship has been cancelled because the organisers feared they could not guarantee the safety of the huge numbers of people who wanted to take part.

"We are victims of our own success," said one of the organisers, Robin Buncombe. "We just have so many people we can't ensure their safety."

The event began in 1981 to raise money for a local hospital, and since then more than £100,000 has been collected for good causes. By 2009 the event was so well-known that 1,200 people took part.

Visitors from as far afield as South America and Australia joined British holidaymakers and locals at the event in Walberswick in Suffolk.

Last year organisers limited the number of entrants, but Buncombe said that put a "bit of a downer" on it. The idea is to suspend the event this year and try to work out a format to make it work in 2012.

Twenty thousand people have taken part since its launch and each participant goes away with a pot of crab paste. The winner is the person who hauls in the heaviest non-edible (living) crab using lines and bait but no hooks or nets.

A list of rules has been developed over the years. Number one is that "No person born before 1890 may enter the championship". Use of hooks or nets leads to "instant and unconditional disqualification".

Crabs must be kept in a bucket of water at all times and returned to their watery home afterwards. A £10 fine is levied against "any person falling in the water and frightening the crabs".

A press release from the organisers acknowledged that fans of crab catching will be upset: "The organisers are all too well aware of the disappointments that may ensue, and of the proceeds that will be lost. The review will be undertaken by listening to people and communities. The future will be dictated by what our many friends feel is right."