The world's biggest birdman event may be on the move.

The International Bognor Birdman Competition held on the town's pier every year, is facing the axe because of fears competitors could break their legs in shallow water.

Safety work carried out last week means the pier is now 50ft shorter. Competitors usually jump off a 35ft drop and need to have about 15ft of water beneath them.

A spokeswoman for Worthing Borough Council said there had been no formal discussions between the authority and the International Bognor Birdman Competition but it would be more than happy to discuss hosting the contest.

The event attracts up to 25,000 spectators annually and gives the economy a massive boost. If the event is lost civic leaders in Bognor are worried the town could lose millions of pounds.

Paul Beckerson, of Bognor Town Council, said: "It's not in our aegis to up sticks and move but it is up to the trust as to whether they wish to do that.

"At the moment there is no decision to base that on until we measure the depths. We are hoping to have that information within the next week."

John Thorpe, executive head of leisure and cultural services at Worthing Borough Council, said: "We know very little about it other than it happens in Bognor.

"We are going to talk to the organisers to see what, if any offer, we could make to help them.

"We have no events budget or team in Worthing and we would only be able to take it as a stand alone package from Bognor.

"There is also very little time to plan it. There are issues with insurance and we do not know what is necessary in terms of the pier.

"There are 101 questions we need to ask before we can contemplate if it is viable for us to host it."

The event started in 1971 in Selsey, near Chichester. The competition involves running off the end of the pier and seeing who can "fly" the furthest distance. The record was set in 1992 by Dave Bradshaw who flew 89.2 metres.

Barry Jones, chairman of the competition, said: "We would not be very pleased for it to leave Bognor because Bognor is its home.

"It would be a major change setting it up because our security and road closures are well known to us. It would mean a lot of work in the short period we have got.

"It's looking reasonably good that we shall be able to still have it here. I am reasonable happy it would go well.

"We had another seven applications in today, including one from Holland. It would be a shame for it to be lost to Bognor but at the end of the day we shall run it wherever."

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