THIS year’s annual sponsored struggle on the River Dart, also known as the Totnes Raft Race, had been cancelled.

Organisers Totnes Rotary have reluctantly decided to cancel the event which was due to be held this Sunday earlier this month.

The prolonged dry spell has resulted in very low water levels on the River Dart which has created dangerous obstacles for rafters.

Organisers had hoped to be able to use a shorter route using only part of the traditional 13-kilometre course, but safety concerns make even that impractical.

Totnes Rotary President Stephen Evans said: ‘We reached the decision to cancel only after a great deal of thought. The safety of those taking part must be our first concern.

‘We apologise for any difficulty this decision may have caused and know that the cancellation will be a disappointment to many, especially those teams which planned to use the event as a way of raising much needed charity funds, but we hope to be able to run the event again next year.’