THIS year's Ringwood Carnival will be held at Carvers Recreation Ground despite works to improve facilities at the normal venue.

Town councillors approved plans for the increasingly popular event to be held at the alternative grounds in March in the event that ongoing flood works at The Bickerley are not finished on time.

Works to increase the capacity of the sewer network and install new pipes to alleviate risk of flooding in the area - part of a £1.8 million scheme - were completed earlier this year.

There are additional works ongoing which Wessex Water says will be done on time for the September 16 event.

But the Carnival committee has made the decision to host it at Carvers regardless of whether The Bickerley is available or not, its chairman Alix Gardner has confirmed.

"Wessex Water and the council may say we may go to The Bickerley but we need to know now," she told the Daily Echo, adding that it was important to inform stallholders and other participants of the venue as soon as possible.

When the event was held at Carvers last year Wessex Water stepped forward to pay for track to be laid to protect much of the field - something that will need to be replicated this year, Mrs Gardner said.

"It is a very delicate ground with the cricket pitch especially," she said. "Our funfair can't have as many rides so it affects them too.

"It's the biggest event for the town all year. We estimate there will be approximately 10-15,000 people coming to Ringwood.

"It's a lot of business for the town."

Mrs Gardner said there is still room for people to join the procession which begins in the town centre.

The Carnival - which began in 1929 - is a registered charity and the only event in the town that gives back to the community, Mrs Gardner said, adding that last year a donation of £4,500 was donated to local causes.

She said: "It's not just a carnival. It is close to my heart as a local and it's important to keep it all going. We do it for the love of our town."