A car boot sale which has been running for 40 years has been cancelled following a disagreement between organisers and the council.

A car boot sale which takes place every June at Melton Recreation Ground, near Woodbridge, has been cancelled after the village's parish council set a new limit of 50 sellers.

The event typically attracts hundreds of car booters and shoppers from across Suffolk and thousands for charity - but it will not be taking place in 2024.

One of the organisers of the event, David Nessling, 52, said: "We've been doing this for 40 years with no worry. Now the council want to change everything.

"We do this for Cancer Research and the Bobby Moore Fund. It's really very sad this has happened.

"People come from miles away to visit our car boot sale and now they are missing out. We will continue to discuss this with the council but they are saying it will be 6 months until our next meeting."

Melton Parish Council has asked the organisers to adhere to new regulations requiring the event to be moved to a different part of the recreation ground and limited the number of car boot sellers to 50. 

Mr Nessling said: "Fifty just simply isn't enough and would mean we would have to increase our charge. The next council meeting is in six months so we'll have to wait until then."

Chair of Melton Parish Council Carol Gradwell said: "The recreation ground needs some ground works to reduce compaction and encourage the grass to thicken up for the benefit of all recreational activities.

"To make this possible, we asked the organisers of the car boot sales if they could switch ends so that the parking would be at the end nearest to the Coach and Horses pub and the stalls would be positioned nearer to the pavilion.

"Sadly the organisers have decided not to hold the car boots sales this year as they are unable to meet these conditions. This is regrettable and we wish them well for the future."

This will be the first year since 1984 that the car boot sale has not taken place in Melton.