Haworth’s hugely popular annual 1940s Weekend is in jeopardy for next year after the event’s organising committee resigned.

The 2017 Haworth 1940s Weekend was successfully staged in May, but a detailed message posted on the event's official Facebook page explained that the occasion has become a victim of its own success.

The committee spokesman wrote: "With the continuing expansion of other 1940s weekends and similar events, it is proving difficult to secure the required support to organise and deliver an event of this size safely within our wonderfully nostalgic village.

"With this in mind, our committee has made the decision to step down and, with sadness, will not be organising the event for 2018.

"Our thanks again go to everyone, too many to mention who have helped, we have had an amazing time."

The spokesman notes that the event has been running for 22 years, and over the past five years alone has raised more than £100,000 for military charities, a total which does not include the sum raised this year for the Pilgrim Bandits injured soldiers charity.

She added: "In addition, the monies raised by and for local community groups and charities is immeasurable, as is the economic value that the weekend has continued to bring to businesses in and around the village."

Nikki Milner, who was chairman of the committee, stressed that the event has not been cancelled for good.

"It's just the committee that has left," she said.

"If a new, competent group comes forward with a viable plan I'm sure Bradford Council will work with them.

"As a committee we have been a fantastic team and we've run the event for many years, so it's time for a fresh start and new blood."

Ms Milner, who has been involved with the weekend for the last six years, stressed that it was very dependent on volunteers and donations to help meet the £20,000 cost of staging the entertainment each year.

"Most of the money that pays for the weekend comes from selling pitches for stalls and from selling merchandise," she said.

"Because the event is for charity we do get a lot of goodwill and support but if the money we make is just used to pay for the following year's weekend we would not get that goodwill.

"Since I've been involved I've seen how massively busy Haworth Main Street becomes during the weekend, which is why we had to diversify and also include the parsonage car park and Haworth Central Park but expanding the event does increase costs."

The committee announcement on Facebook has already provoked hundreds of comments from concerned fans, with some expressing confusion as to whether or not the resignation means future 1940s weekends will go ahead.

Several people have already asked what support they can offer to keep the event going.

One poster commented: "Nobody has actually said it can't go ahead, just the previous committee are stepping down.

"They have done a fantastic job over the years and if they could pass on their knowledge I'm sure others would be happy to take over and keep the tradition alive, bringing people and revenue to this amazing little village."