THE WATERCRESS Line’s nostalgic War on the Line event has been cancelled for a third straight year in light of the war in Ukraine.

The June event, which last ran in 2019, commemorates the events of World War Two and draws in re-enactors from across the south of England.

But the Mid Hants Railway (MHR) board, which runs the heritage railway line between Alton and Alresford, said the “tragic events” in Ukraine had forced organisers to consider whether the 1940s event should return as planned in 2022.

A spokesman for the MHR said: “The tragic events that are currently taking place in Ukraine have led the Watercress Line to consider whether to continue with plans to hold our annual 1940s event War on the Line.

“The MHR Board has looked very carefully at the issue and has decided that to proceed under the current circumstances would send a wholly inappropriate message to our customers and the wider public.

“We have therefore taken the decision to cancel these events until further notice. We appreciate that this will be disappointing to many, particularly as significant planning has already been carried out for the 2022 event.

“However, we strongly believe that this is the right thing to do for the railway and to continue with these events at the present time would be morally wrong.”