The organisers of the Lowestoft airshow have announced today that the event will not go ahead next year.

This afternoon the directors and committee of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, made the decision to cancel next year's aerial spectacular.

The decision comes after organisers needed to find �60,000 to top up the airshow's wet weather contingency reserve to make sure the event could go ahead next year.

However the fund has not reached its target - leading to today's confirmation that the show will not go ahead next summer.

A airshow spokesman said; 'The directors and committee meet today to decide whether the airshow could be held in 2013.

'Unfortunately it has been decided it can not go ahead.

'In reaching this decision the directors investigated all areas - underwriting, sponsorship, out of event funding, event loss insurance and off course trimming the costs of the airshow itself.

'We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over many years.'

The spokesman was keen to point out that the directors and committee members hope future airshows can still be held.

It was estimated that up to 300,000 people attended this year's two day show - which saw only �85,000 collected from visitors.

Despite the poor weather, this year's show earned praise for the quality of its flying displays. However finding the �300,000 to pay for each shows has proved increasingly difficult for organisers.

The airshow began in 1997 and in 2004 a social enterprise the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Ltd was set up to take over the two day show, which previously had been run by Waveney District Council.