ONE of Liphook’s most popular events for children and their parents may not take place this year because repairs to a vital bridge in Radford Park will not be completed in time.

The annual Dog Show and Duck Race, a fundraising event – organised by Liphook Infant School Friends Association and Friends Of Liphook Junior School – may now not take place this September.

Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council has announced Radford Park bridge will not be rebuilt until next spring, after it was recently taken down.

The council said in a statement: “We have been in talks with an engineering consultancy firm as it is a more complex project than just replacing the bridge.

“We require approval from various different agencies, planning permission and more.  We are proceeding well, but it will take longer than we had originally anticipated. We are sorry there is no bridge for the annual ‘Dog Show and Duck Race’ this year.”

James Green, the new recreation committee chairman, has been meeting with county council consulants, who warned a replacement could cost in the region of £100,000. He said the bridge will require safe, disabled access, a longer run-up and stressed work could not be carried out during winter months.