FANS are hoping to save Gloucestershire's cheese rolling event – despite yesterday's announcement that it has been cancelled this year.

Cheese rolling enthusiasts from around the world last night reacted with dismay after the decision to shelve the popular event due to health and safety issues.

It follows concerns from police and councils about safety on Cooper's Hill, near Brockworth, where the event is held.

Organisers have vowed that the event will return in 2011, but it will more than likely be ticketed to keep a cap on spiralling spectator numbers.

Richard Jefferies, of the organising committee, said: ""Last year 15,000 spectators came to the event, by far the most we have ever seen, and we just could not cope.

"Local landowners were also worried by the amount of damage done by people climbing over fences and that sort of thing."

The event was scheduled for May 31.

Inspector Stephen Norris, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: "The organisers of the event, the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Committee (CHCRC), have an obligation to ensure the safety of those attending."

Diana Smart, of Smart Traditional Gloucester Cheese in Churcham, which makes the cheese, was devastated to hear the event was off this year.

She said: "I think it is dreadful. The cheese has been made for it, it was made before Christmas and now it's just sat there.

"It makes you wonder if other traditional events like the wool sack racing and the shin kicking will also be cancelled.

"It is a big loss for the area but hopefully it will return next year."

Gloucestershire County and Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Mike Collins (Lib Dem, Brockworth), said organisers had made the right move. He said: "I'm incredibly disappointed the event has been cancelled, but I think it was the right decision.

"It's gone from being a community event to an international phenomenon, and there just isn't room for that number of people on the hill.

"I think it is a sensible decision, and they are going to have to do a lot of talking to sort out the problems."

He added residents had raised concerns that the cancellation of the event might lead to "impromptu, unofficial races", without the protection of organisers and ambulance personnel.

County councillor Mark Hawthorne, cabinet member for regeneration, is trying to ensure that the event does go ahead.

He said: "The cheese rolling is a great Gloucestershire event that brings thousands of visitors in to the county. I am really disappointed to hear about the cancellation, which had nothing to do with the county council.

"I have been told that the event was cancelled by the organisers following a problem with their insurers. I'm going to get in touch with them to see if there's anything we can do to help get this great Gloucestershire event back on track.

"Cheese rolling has been going on for hundreds of years and we must ensure that this great tradition continues."

The organisers of the event released a statement yesterday morning through their website.

It said: "The attendance at the event has far outgrown the location where it has traditionally been held for several hundred years: last year more than 15,000 people tried to attend (according to official estimates) which is more than three times the capacity of the site.

"The event will be back, in a revised form, in 2011."