Organisers of Woodstock's annual carnival have warned that this year's parade could be the last.

And we wouldn't be surprised if more of Oxfordshire's traditional events go the same way.

The reason is a massive hike in insurance premiums.

In Woodstock's case, organisers had to double their public liability policy from £5m to £10m, and the cost shot up from £450 to £1,200.

It is not alone in feeling the pinch from the insurance companies.

The immediate effect of such huge increases will be to cut the amount raised for good causes.

At worst, the future of events may be put in jeopardy.

It is a sad reflection on the modern world that we have to be prepared for the threat of litigation if the slightest thing goes wrong.

Invariably, one of the first words we hear after a mishap is 'compensation'.

But society will be the loser if all the colourful events in our social calendar are forced out of existence and out of our lives.