An animal-rights group has called for a major change to the World Pier Crabbing Championships at an annual festival.

Peta asked organisers of the Cromer Crab and Lobster Festival, in Norfolk, to replace its crabbing competition with a "Crab Appling Championship".

The annual festival, held each May, celebrated Cromer's fishing heritage with seafood stalls, cooking demonstrations, family entertainment and a crabbing contest.

Hilary Cox, president of the festival, told the BBC: "While we consider their concern for the wellbeing of any animal, the idea of using crab apples this time of the year out of season is way off course."

The crabbing championship, where participants fish non-edible crabs from the pier using lines and bait, has been one of the festival's most popular events, organisers said.

"We, as the Crab and Lobster Festival group, acknowledge the importance of the crab locally," said Ms Cox.

"It's a part of our heritage, it has been for a long time, and we hope well into the future."

Peta said that crabs could suffer painful injuries when pulled from their natural habitat.

Peta's vice president of vegan corporate projects, Dawn Carr, said: "While crab apples only have peels, crabs have feels.

"They, like all animals, deserve to enjoy their lives free from human cruelty."

The organisation said that even when released back into the sea, injured or stressed crabs may not survive.

In its letter to festival president Hilary Cox, Peta said fishing for apples rather than crabs could make the festival "greener and kinder" while still being fun.

It also pointed to the treatment of other sea animals in commercial fishing and shellfish processing, calling industry practices cruel.