The Botanic Gardens could be without its famous boats and train for more than two years.

Sefton Council said the concessions could not be run this year, because the park's boat house is in urgent need of repair, Botanic Gardens Action Group vice chairman, Cllr John Dodd, said.

“A lot of people have been asking when the boats are coming back and the worry is that people will forget about them and start visiting other parks away from Sefton,” Cllr Dodd said.

“There doesn’t need to be a boathouse to have boats - there could be a temporary kiosk or a man with a pouch taking money.

“I hope to put pressure on Lord Fearn, cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism, and Sefton’s Leisure director to see if something temporary could be put in, but we are virtually in summer now.”

Chairman of the Action Group, Ken Bridge, said: “Botanic Gardens without the boats and the train is like the town centre without the shops. 

“The repairs cost is not likely to go into the council’s budget until next April at the earliest and then there would be the wait whilst the repairs are carried out.”

The boathouse should have been maintained before it became irreparable, he added.

Sefton Council removed several sunken boats from the park’s lake last month.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "There are plenty of free activities for the whole family available in the award winning Botanic Gardens.

"Unfortunately we had to make the decision to not operate the boating and train concession this year as the service is not viable.

"We are currently planning a consultation exercise involving park users and the Botanic Gardens Action Group to see exactly what facilities people would like in the popular park. We are hoping to move this engagement process forward in the coming months."

By Natasha Robson