THE race is over for Radcliffe Athletic Club, which has been forced to abandon its annual carnival fun run after 15 years.

Police are refusing to shut the roads and marshal the traditional three mile sponsored run which raises thousands of pounds for charity.

"We feel very angry and let down," said club chairman Mr Tom West.

He is furious that he was only informed of the decision just seven weeks before Radcliffe's carnival day in June.

He said: "It's such short notice. We have already placed adverts and organised the publicity. A lot of people are going to be very disappointed."

Mr West, aged 58, of Farcroft Avenue, said the run, which set off half-an-hour before the carnival parade, will never be held again.

"There's no way we can have people running along the roads when there's traffic driving past.

"The route will be closed from 2pm for the carnival but it would be just as dangerous running alongside carnival lorries and trailers."

The chairman of Radcliffe Carnival Committee, Mr Ray Vevers, shared Mr West's disappointment.

Head of Radcliffe Police, Inspector Nigel Bonson, said: "We are currently reviewing the policing of all road events in the division in response to a new national policing policy which is primarily about safety."

He added: "We are certainly not singling out this particular event."

But Mr West said: "The police have pulled the plug and we have been snubbed. The run helped to publicise the club and raise money for charity, but now everyone will suffer."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.