BCP COUNCIL has admitted the Hengistbury Head Land Train will be out of action on Wednesdays as the council tries to find additional drivers.

“The Hengistbury Head land train is temporarily in operation six days a week, excluding Wednesdays, as we seek to recruit additional drivers with the required Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licence (PCV)," said Head of Parks Development at BCP Council Michael Rowland.

"We hope to resume a full seven day service as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Any further service updates will be posted on the Hengistbury Head Land Train Facebook page," he said."We’d welcome anyone with the right qualifications to get in touch, especially those after part time hours.’’

The land train only returned to service in May after months of problems.

Services had to be stopped in October last year after a cyclist was injured when two carriages broke away from one of the trains.

The subsequent Health and Safety Executive investigation meant the traditional green train, affectionately known as Noddy Train, was unable to operate.

But late May, BCP Council introduced the current 'temporary' service using one of the smaller seafront trains.

However, campaigners working towards the return of the original Noddy Train have not welcomed this latest service.

Campaigner Gemma Brazier, who launched a petition calling for the temporary service to be scrapped in favour of the Noddy Train's return, told the Echo: "This is a shoddy train, operating on a shoddy service.

"They (BCP Council) want us to forget about the Noddy Train, and they're going through this process of trying different things, blaming it on others and hoping we will forget. But we won't forget.

"It pleases me no end when this new train isn't running, because I hate this new train.

"I don't want a service there unless it is the Noddy Train, I couldn't give a damn about the other train, I want the original Noddy Train back."

The land train, which operates between the Hungry Hiker Cafe and Mudeford Sandbank, is a popular feature at Hengistbury Head and attracts thousands of people every year. It usually operates all year round.