ONE of the top events in the Island's countryside calendar will not go ahead in 2019.

The annual hedgelaying competition — where hordes of skilled Islanders compete to lay the best straight hedge — is usually held in Calbourne, but this year they have been unable to secure a site with both a good hedge and safe access.

A spokesperson posted on Facebook: "We shall be back in future years. Many thanks to the sponsors, supporters and competitors who have been involved so far, and apologies for the break.

"In the meantime, if you know a landowner with a tall, even hawthorn hedge of 200m or longer that is not on a roadside, with a dry field for parking next to it, get in touch for 2020."