This year's Barnet Carnival set to be the 41st successive event has been cancelled because of foot-and-mouth fears.

But Finchley Carnival organisers said that their July event will go ahead as planned.

Barnet Carnival co-ordinators took the drastic action this week with "sadness and regret" in the face of the spiralling epidemic among farm animals.

While the disease had not yet hit Hertfordshire or London, many of the acts booked for the May 28 event come from restricted areas, they said.

There are two farms near to carnival grounds in Byng Road, Barnet.

The decision, which will disappoint thousands of carnival-goers, would seem to undermine the Government's assertion that Britain is 'open for business'.

"It was felt prudent to cancel at this point in time, rather than any last-minute decision which may have been forced upon us," said veteran carnival committee member John Macfarlane.

"If there was a local outbreak of foot-and-mouth we could not be held as a contributory factor in any way."

The poor state of the carnival ground, at Barnet Saracens Elizabethans Rugby Football Club in Byng Road, Barnet, was also blamed.

"Our grounds are situated on London clay and while thousands of pounds have been spent in the past on drainage, the exceptional weather conditions of this winter have taken their toll," Mr Macfarlane added.

Last year's event struggled against poor weather. Cancelling the carnival now will leave the rugby club, which organises the event, with losses of some £2,000.

However, a last-minute cancellation should foot-and-mouth strike would cost even more.

Chipping Barnet MP Sir Sydney Chapman expressed disappointment but said he understood the decision.

He added: "This is taking sensible precautions in that there are two farms nearby."

A spokeswoman for Finchley Carnival said: "We have absolutely no plans whatsoever to cancel. It is a town event."

The rugby club is now planning an event for June 3 2002 celebrating the Queen's Jubilee.