AN annual Boxing Day road race was cancelled after organisers were unable to obtain police approval for the route.

Worcester Athletic Club has been promoting the 10-year-old Cross Keys race for two years.

Organisers say this year West Mercia police deemed the route unsafe and officers could not supply adequate resources should the race go ahead.

The event, which attracts more than 100 runners from as far as Edinburgh and Cornwall, starts and ends at the Cross Keys Drinking Parlour in Suckley, near Worcester.

Organiser Chris Crosswell said they could still run the nine-mile race, but could be liable for compensation claims should anything go wrong.

"The granting of an Midland Counties Athletic Association Race Permit automatically confers third party public liability insurance cover on an event," said Mr Crosswell.

"However, the advice we received was the insurance underwriters would contest any claim if an event that uses public highways hadn't been approved by the police.

"The legal and moral responsibility for the safety of anyone involved with this type of event lies solely with the event organiser and promoter.

"Although we've made risk assessments, implemented UK Athletics road race guidelines, and genuinely tried to produce a race that fulfils a particular need safely, the possible risk of litigation having to be borne personally isn't acceptable."

Mr Crosswell said the same course had been approved in past years.

"There are issues with the road that couldn't be addressed even with road closures," said PC Mike Digger, traffic management officer for Worcester police.

"There's running water, pot-holes and in some cases there are blind bends. We'd have be failing in our duty to the public in saying yes."

Worcester Athletic Club said it would try and promote the fixture in the future.