The Tour de Trigs - the marathon walk organised every year by Banbury scouts - has been cancelled for the first time in its 35-year history.

The foot and mouth outbreak is blamed.

The event, which is held every December, attracts competitors from all over Oxfordshire as well as other parts of England.

However, after talks between landowners, farmers, footpath officers, and competitors, this year's walk has been called off.

The Banbury and District Scout Association said it took into account the fact that walkers would come from areas still affected by foot and mouth when it decided to scrap the event.

Deputy district commissioner Robert Scott said: "We felt we could not give any guarantees to farmers and landowners that navigational errors would not occur, especially during the night, leading to walkers straying off the route into farms where livestock could be."

He said: "Having enjoyed close co-operation and friendship with farmers for 35 years it was a unanimous decision to cancel this year's event."

The tour is a 50-mile day and night slog over footpaths, bridal tracks, and minor roads in north Oxfordshire, South Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire.

Teams of three compete to complete the trek in the quickest time.

Last year, in bad weather, 110 teams set out but only 18 finished.