RESIDENTS of Goodworth Clatford raised glasses of mulled wine at a special open morning to celebrate the end of work to repair the village’s Riverside Walk.

The walk is a popular boardwalk and path on the disused railway in the centre of the village.

Built by volunteers, it runs alongside the River Anton and is used by local people and visitors throughout the year.

However, overhanging trees and the need for repairs meant its future was under threat so the past year has seen a two-phase community- led project to ensure it could be used and enjoyed into the future.

The first phase, undertaken last winter, involved a considerable amount of tree work.

Previously, a poplar tree was overhanging the boardwalk and, as the stability of the tree was compromised, the walk was closed for safety reasons.

Time and the elements had also taken their toll on the boardwalk and some parts needed urgent replacement.

The £5,000 Veolia Environmental Trust grant also funded sufficient recycled boards to replace over half of the wooden decking.

The work was undertaken by Goodworth Clatford Environmental Group.

The second phase, which was undertaken this autumn, involved the replacement of the remainder of the wooden decking with recycled boards.

This work was also undertaken by the environmental group and funding came from IGas.

Chairman of the environmental group, Richard Ryder, said: “The generous funding we have been able to secure to replace all the wooden decking with more expensive recycled boards has been justified, given the unprecedented level of the river during the last two winters, which caused so much damage.

“The recycled boards and runners should now have a life expectancy in excess of 20 years.”

The Veolia Environmental Trust’s executive director Paul Taylor said: “ I hope the repairs mean that people can enjoy the walk and the river for many years to come.”