SPIRALLING red tape and insurance costs are killing off charity events in Dorset, fundraisers have claimed.

Angry residents at Lulworth have hit out after two events failed to get off the ground this year.

They claimed the annual carnival procession and raft race fell victim to rising insurance costs and regulations.

Families in the resort have staged a symbolic recreation of the charity raft race, vowing to resurrect the event next year.

Lulworth Beach Hotel owner Philip Rudd, 39, attacked petty rules and regulations that he said were scaring off community events. He said: "I wanted to organise the raft race in the summer as it is great fun and raises a bit of money for charity. But as soon as you try and do something it is about who is going to take responsibility for insurance.

"You also have sign waivers and disclaimers because of Health and Safety obligations, and have to fill in questionnaires about children under certain ages.

"The council would have had to come and inspect the rafts too. "We seem to be turning into a nation of cowards."

Fellow raft race enthusiast Paul Middlehurst, who lives in nearby Chaldon Herring, said an increase in red tape had led to greater nervousness among organisers.

Last year organisers of Chickerell Carnival were forced to cancel after being hit with rocketing insurance premiums.

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin recently hit out at 'compulsive caution' which he claimed was turning the UK into a cowardly society.

Conservative parliamentary spokesman for South Dorset Ed Matts said complex regulations were leading to pancake races being banned, voluntary work being restricted and school trips being abandoned.

He said: "It is preventing us from doing the simplest things that have been done for years without incident. I am especially keen to find other examples of this across the constituency.

"We must help would-be organisers tackle this nonsense either by finding legal ways round the obstacles or lobbying to change the law itself."

Director of community services at Purbeck District Council Roger Worley said he was unaware of any proposed raft race at Lulworth.

He said: "The only obstacle I know of currently is a difficulty in getting insurance for events - I do think that insurance nationally is far, far worse than before."

Dorset County Council leader Tim Palmer said he was keen to see all sorts of community activities flourish. But he said matters of personal safety had to be properly considered.

He said: "There is a balance to be struck. No-one wants too much red tape, and if it is killing off events then that is counter-productive."