Eastleigh'S annual funfair has been ordered to stay off part of Leigh Road Park because underground air-raid shelters are crumbling.

The borough council fears the four Second World War shelters in the south-west corner of the park might not support the weight of heavy fairground rides or lorries.

A survey by structural engineers found the shelters were "in a reasonable condition", but could in time collapse if the future use of heavy vehicle loads was not "treated with caution".

The survey concluded that the shelters "would withstand light vehicle and general pedestrian loading".

Charmaine Stevens, whose family has brought the funfair to Eastleigh for about 50 years, believes the council's better-to-be-safe-than-sorry reaction is over the top.

She told the Daily Echo: "We had this discussion with the council last year and agreed we would only put light-load attractions like air bags and trampolines on the area. So last year there was a ride situated in the corner which wasn't even over the air-raid shelters at all.

"But this year, about three weeks before we were due to come, the council notified us that we couldn't use that area at all, which has made it very difficult.

"We used to put some of our generating vehicles there and the two caravans we use for offices and security have had to be moved too, which has made it all very tight for room."

She added: "It would have been nice to have had the same agreement as last year - that we would put light things there that couldn't possibly hurt at all. Consequently we've lost one ride. We'd already taken a booking on it, but we had to cancel.''

Eastleigh Council defended its decision. Spokesman Steve Collins said: "The purpose is to keep very heavy loads off some of the points around the old access shafts, which were deemed to be the weak points.

"We are heeding the advice of structural engineers and we are taking the safe option of not encouraging heavy vehicles to drive over that particular area of the park.''

"We have restricted the fair to north of the diagonal path. Last year they were allowed to use some of that area for light things like inflatables but they still have to be towed on with heavy lorries."