The future of next year's Birdman of Bognor festival is hanging in the balance after the organisers pulled out.

The world-famous seafront event's silver jubilee could be washed up if Arun District Council refuses to step in and save it.

The company which took over the International Birdman Festival for 2003 has decided it cannot yet take on all of the responsibilities.

Its six directors have said they want to work alongside the council for next year's event before assuming complete control in future years.

Paul Wells, chairman designate of the company, said the extra year would allow his team to develop a marketing and management plan to ensure the wacky contest's future success.

But despite months of negotiations between the council and the trust, there are now doubts on whether next year's event will run at all.

In a Press release which was sent to the media at the same time as the council, Mr Wells said: "To stage such an event under the auspices of a district council with the many resources at its disposal is very different to six individual directors signing up to take on this huge responsibility.

"None of the prospective directors wish to see Birdman disappear and would offer full support if the local authority would maintain responsibility for 2003."

Arun services director Colin Rogers said: "Our attitude is one of surprise. We thought negotiations had proceeded sufficiently to transfer responsibilities to the trust.

"Now they have pulled the plug on those proposals and we were surprised to get the news.

"Having said that, we do understand the responsibilities of running Birdman are onerous.

"There was a serious accident at this year's event which made everyone sit up and take notice. The worst that could happen is that there was another serious accident and questions were asked about who is responsible.

"We cannot commit ourselves to running the 2003 event. We will have further discussions with the trust next week but at the moment its future is in doubt."

This year more than 20,000 people gathered on the seafront to watch the 32 daring contestants leap from Bognor pier in the quest for a £25,000 prize put up for the first person to fly 100 metres.

Arun has run the rally with the help of a committee of local people since 1995, when the original team of organisers stepped down.

It now wants to hand over the responsibility for the event to an external company.

Jan Cosgrove, Bognor's mayor, said: "We can't afford to let the Birdman go. It makes Bognor into worldwide news each summer."