HOPES of Prince Charles giving Fair Oak's new-look recreation ground a right royal send-off have been dashed.

Thousands of pounds have been spent on upgrading the Shorts Road Recreation Ground which has been renamed New Century Park.

Special ornate gates have been put up at the Shorts Road entrance to mark the millennium and the Queen's Golden Jubilee is being celebrated with special gates in another part of the park.

Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council had hoped to put the royal icing on the celebrations by getting the Prince of Wales to officially open the landscaped park during village celebrations on Saturday, May 25, next year.

But now in a communication from St James's Palace the village authority has been told that the prince is unable to do the opening honours. In the letter a spokesman for the prince says that he was very grateful for the invitation, but after considering all the possibilities he was reluctantly forced to conclude that he was unable to accept.

The spokesman said: "I am sure that you will understand that the pressure on His Royal Highness's diary means it is not possible to include all the engagements he would wish to undertake."

But this royal setback has not dampened the spirits of parish council chiefs. Chairman Councillor Helen Douglas said: "We are disappointed but do realise there is a lot of pressure on the prince's diary."

But Cllr Douglas added: "It will still be a big celebration for what is a big project."

Prince Charles will not be gracing the event but it is pencilled into the diary of the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mary Fagan, who is the Queen's representative for the county.