IT has survived two world wars, floods, droughts and other natural disasters.

But after an unbroken run of more than 200 years, the annual gooseberry show in the hamlet of Egton Bridge on the North York Moors has finally succumbed to foot-and-mouth disease.

The quaint and gentle event in the local school has attracted enthusiasts - and the simply curious - from all over the country to show, examine or praise a bewildering variety of berries.

But this year, for the first time, the school will be empty on August 7 and the prize fruit will remain on the bushes or go straight into a pie.

"Foot-and-mouth has been working its way down the Esk Valley and we just don't think we should go-ahead," said Eric Preston, chairman of the Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society for the past 16 years.

"We took the decision very reluctantly but this crisis is affecting people very personally and it would be flying in the face of their feelings to go ahead."

Gooseberry shows were once popular all over the north but they went into steep decline after the First World War when their numbers dwindled from about 170 to only 20.

Now there are only two left, one in Cheshire and the other at Egton Bridge, where official records go back to 1800 - although it is highly likely the event was an annual one even before that. "It is very sad that foot-and-mouth has achieved what not even a war has done in the past but we have to accept it," said Eric.

However, Eric says growers are managing to keep their sense of humour despite their disappointment at the cancellation.

"Everybody has been saying to me that they've managed to grow their biggest berries ever this year - but perhaps that's because they know we can't put their claims to the test."