The Norfolk Care Awards will not take place next year after Norfolk County Council said it was unable to support the February event.

The awards started four years ago and were originally supported by Norfolk Independent Care, before the county council gave direct support last year.

But James Bullion, executive director of adult social care at the council said: 'Given the amount of financial pressure the council faces, it has to work with local care business and sponsors to provide a Care Awards event at the minimum cost and it feels £35,000 is not affordable.

'Whilst the event cannot take place in February, the council will work with others to ensure a high profile care awards event in the autumn of 2018 celebrating the important work that care providers do.

John Bacon, chairman of Norfolk Independent Care added: 'The Norfolk Care Awards has been a fantastic initiative and has played a big part in giving care workers and providers a much needed shot in the arm in recent years, a time when coverage of the sector has been dominated by negative stories about inadequate funding and poor care.

'It will be a huge disappointment for all of Norfolk's great service providers and workers if the awards are unable to continue. They will miss out on the public recognition they so richly deserve. It is encouraging that NCC is now looking at ways of keeping the event on the calendar and continuing its support for the awards. It has now become a highlight of the year for so many of us, and it would be greatly missed if we were to lose it.'

Tracy Wharvell and Claire Gilbert from the Norfolk Care Awards team, said: 'We have been very privileged to see some of the best social care practice in Norfolk, we have loved organising this event and having an opportunity to say a big thank you to all the unsung heroes, who support people to live their lives with dignity and respect.'