Great East Run and Great East Swim cancelled
Both events have brought thousands of people to Suffolk to raise money for good causes
Two large scale charity events which before the pandemic brought thousands of people to Suffolk have been permanently cancelled.
Last year's Great East Swim was called off due to blue-green algae in Alton Water - organisers say there hasn't been a solution to keep people safe, so they can't continue to run the event.
Meanwhile the Great East Run, which was last held in 2019, has been felled by pressures caused by the pandemic.
Covid-19 had forced the cancellations of the Ipswich-based charity run in 2020 and 2021.
In a statement on their websites, event organisers The Great Run Company said:
"Over the past 4 years we’ve worked incredibly hard with our partners to bring a first class Half Marathon event to Suffolk.
"From the first firing of the start gun in 2017 to the last finisher crossing the line in 2019, we’ve enormously enjoyed delivering the Great East Run and seeing thousands achieve their goals and raise significant funds for charity.
"We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Suffolk County Council for their excellent support, Jaffa Run Club for their considerable expertise, and of course, to everyone who has taken part or supported the event.
"Unfortunately, the Great East Swim is not currently feasible in its current site in Alton Water, due to ongoing challenges with Blue-Green Algae which has caused the event to be impossible to stage in 2021.
"We have explored ways to mitigate this as well as looking for other locations, but unfortunately, we haven’t found a solution to the problem, and we can’t continue to operate without confidence the event will go ahead. "
Anyone who has already entered the Great East Swim is to be given a full refund.