month's 12th annual End To End walk to make a quarter-mile detour.

The May 1 walk from either St. George's and Hamilton to Dockyard will detour onto Middle Road near Five Star Island, route master Eugene Carmichael said yesterday.

A 30-foot limestone cut in the trail forced Works and Engineering officials to seal it off in October after there were several landslides.

The landslides are believed to have been caused by heavy rainfall.

Mr. Carmichael said: "We have resolved the problem. The End to End will have to use about a quarter mile of Middle Road.'' He added the walk on Middle Road would be supervised by Police as it is done on other sections of the route.

"We had been in talks with Works and Engineering and with Parks both of whom are helpful, concerned and cooperative,'' Mr. Carmichael said.

Organisers faced a dilemma in keeping the length of the walk relatively the same length as previous years -- at 15 and 26 miles.

Speaking generally about the walk, Mr. Carmichael said: "Interest this year has been great. Over the years we have raised $1.1 million and distributed it to 46 charities.'' He added: "This is the only event that is capable of bringing people together like this, regardless of race, creed or colour. Its success has been astounding.'' Mr. Carmichael did add a plea from organisers to walkers that dispose of water bottles and other trash along the trail.

He said: "The organisers are concerned about the litter that is left behind by walkers. We would urge people walking this year in the event to leave no litter.'' Registration forms for the walk are available from the Sportseller, Sports Locker, all branches of the Bank of Bermuda, and all of the Phoenix Stores.

Practice walks will be held on April 17 from Dockyard at 7.30 a.m. and on April 25 from Albouy's Point.