AN annual soapbox racing competition held in a village near Evesham has been cancelled.

The Badsey Soapbox Races, held in the village since 2016 has been cancelled by organisers because of a lack of drivers and concerns over safety due to low numbers of volunteers.

The organising committee made the "difficult decision" to cancel the event for 2024 but remain hopeful over the future of racing in the village, inviting people to prepare for next year.

Andy Wilson, a member of the Badsey Soapbox Races committee said: "Unfortunately we had to make the call. 

"We were about to spent a lot of money on the bales of hay and we just don't have enough people to make it work. 

"We had five or six soapboxes which includes a couple of double drivers but unless we have ten it takes too long to get the vehicles back to the start and leaves 30 minute gaps for spectators which wouldn't be good.

"It's a shame but we are going to try and market the event more to the kart community and the vale in general and hopefully next year will be a big success."

Soapboxes have been running down Knowle Hill annually on the August bank holiday since 2016 apart from a "covid-enforced break". 

The races were set to take place on August 25, however the committee has now set August 24 2025 as the provisional date for the next event.

Mr Wilson continued: "We've never cancelled but it wouldn't have worked well. 

"It's been a perfect storm and a lot of the people who normally enter have not entered for various reasons.

"We have always been a local thing but we did have one guy from London come every year but even he hasn't signed up. 

"Obviously everyone is disappointed but they understand the situation. 

"One guy was a bit miffed having spent the last six months tweaking his soapbox after coming second last year but he knows what goes into it and understands that our decision is the right one."

Unfortunately "a soapbox is not something you can build in a few weeks", so if you want to get involved next year it's best to start early.