The Tendring Hundred Show has been cancelled amid fears the major event could fuel the foot-and mouth crisis.
Organisers decided to call off the July event because of possible risks involved in staging the large-scale agricultural show.
It is the first time since the war the popular agricultural show will not go ahead and comes as a major blow to farmers, who have already seen a string of shows axed.
Show secretary Anne Taylor said the decision was made last night in the light of the discovery of foot-and-mouth antibodies in sheep on a farm in Great Wigborough.
She said: "Although Maff statistics show a declining trend in foot-and-mouth outbreaks, the recent situation at Great Wigborough has highlighted the fact that sporadic outbreaks continue to occur. There can be no guarantee there will be no new outbreaks in north Essex or even the showground itself."
Bob Steward, president for this year's show, said he was 100 per cent behind the decision. He said: "It was a hard decision, but the disease is a terrible one and I don't think we were left with any alternative."
Plans for the show were already in doubt when Tendring Hundred Farmer's Club decided to halve the animal classes in March. Cattle, sheep and goat classes had been cancelled for the show due to be held at Lawford House Park.
During the last foot-and-mouth outbreak in 1967, Tendring Show was staged without livestock.
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