The Sussex Open Championships, the oldest tournament in Britain, has no one to run it next year.

The Hastings Association, which had organised it since 1935, have pulled out.

In a letter to all Sussex Leagues and the County Association, Ron Spencer, the organiser for 15 years, wrote that he will resign at a meeting next week and expects his committee to follow suit.

It invites all players and officials in the county to search for a new venue and new organisers. The tournament, which has now achieved British Grand Prix status, is due to take place from October 6-7.

Spencer said: "The Hastings venue is quite small with only 11 tables. With entries of nearly 200 players more tables will be needed."

Sussex chairman Keith Jackson (Haywards Heath), who recently fractured an Achilles tendon playing table tennis, pledged the Championships will carry on.

He said: "There is no way we shall be letting the tournament fade away after the toil put in by Hastings officials for so long."

Sussex will seek to stage it at the Crawley Leisure Centre which can take around 16 tables. But it would need the co-operation of Crawley Leisure Services, county officials and the Crawley and Horsham League.

Proposals from the county will be considered shortly by Crawley Leisure.

Most Grand Prix tournaments try to accommodate over 200 players, some with 32 tables.

- John Woodford