More than a century of summer tradition has suddenly ended after Sheringham Beach Mission was cancelled.

Mystery surrounds the reasons for Scripture Union (SU) ending this year's mission, which had been due to run at the end of July and the beginning of August.

An SU spokesman apologised for the cancellation, but would not go into the reasons.

She said: 'I have been in touch with my colleague who is in charge of missions. He simply said that for various reasons the Sheringham Beach Mission is not expected to be able to run this year.

'But we are working towards running the mission again in 2012. We are really sorry for any disappointment this causes.'

One woman who did not want to be identified, but whose children have regularly attended the beach mission, said: 'People are in uproar about this. Generations of families have gone to Sheringham for the beach mission.

'People organise their holidays to coincide with the mission. And lots of families arrange to meet up at that time. But there's been no publicity to say it isn't happening.

'It's a huge event for the town, and it's a terrible shame that it has stopped.'

The SU spokesman urged anyone who was disappointed to miss the Sheringham event to go instead to Cromer Beach Mission, which runs from July 31 to August 12.

The two-week event - which has notched up almost 130 years - includes a tidefight, bouncy castle, crafts, Bible studies, drama, a treasure hunt, a barn dance, beach games and other events.

The SU website says: 'Sadly Sheringham Beach Mission is not happening this summer but along with the local churches we are keen to see the work of the mission continue. We are working together to consider what this might look like.'

? Visit www.cromersubm.org.uk.