EUROPE’S first artificial surf reef may not be completed until the new year, despite hopes that the major tourist attraction would be finished this autumn.

The borough’s head of tourism, Mark Smith revealed yesterday how months of unsettled weather had affected work on the Boscombe reef.

He said: “One of the major problems has been the lack of long settled periods of weather which have meant that the contractors have not had the operating days they were hoping for.

“The contract is still for the contract to be completed by the end of this year. The reef has taken 10 years of planning and we are keen to get it right; the main surfing season is in the spring and autumn. Other facilities at Boscombe will not be in place until next Easter.”

In an earlier statement, a council spokesman said the contractor ASR Ltd “has now advised us that it may be difficult for them to complete construction this year”.

Last year, there were fears that protests from local fishermen could scupper the reef, which is central to the regeneration of Boscombe.

But the threat was lifted last winter when, after a long delay, a licence was issued under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

At that time Roger Brown, the borough’s head of leisure services, said: “Christmas has come early to Bournemouth. Weather conditions permitting, we anticipate completing the reef, as well as land-based retail, catering and surf instruction facilities, by autumn next year.”

Boscombe councillor Phil Stanley-Watts said he was disappointed that the reef may not be finished until the new year.

He added: “A lot of people were waiting for it to happen at the end of October but it is such a pioneering concept that were bound to be problems.”

David Weight, who has campaigned for a reef at Boscombe since 1993, said: “I’m confident they will complete the base this week; the delay may not be a bad thing because it will give it time to settle over the winter. It’s disappointing for surfers but, after so many years, another few months aren't going to make much difference.”

Now watch the man behind the reef explain why it will work - then follow the links on the right to the rest of our surf reef stories...