BAD weather has delayed the completion of the memorial garden in tribute to Rovers' legend Jack Walker.

No date has been fixed for when the Ewood Park project will end after workers were hampered by poor weather.

It had been hoped the tribute garden would be ready in time for the kick-off to the season.

Pride of place in the garden will be a statue of the former Blackburn Rovers benefactor.

The scheme has the backing of fans, who want something similar to the famous Bill Shankly statue which is situated outside Liverpool's Anfield ground.

They have contributed to the cost of the project through a series of donations to the Jack Walker Memorial Fund.

Guy Wignall, chairman of the disabled supporters' club at Blackburn Rovers said: "We have all been looking forward to the completion of the garden and gas to see that the project is fully under way.

"I think the weather has played a big role in preventing the work from being completed on time for the start of the season.

"We know that the statue is going to be something really special because a lot of time, effort and research has gone into it.

"We have been involved in lots of fundraising activities and our big bucket campaign, which we carried out in March at the Wimbledon match, raised well over £5,000. That goes to show how many people want to back the memorial garden."

The club hoped to have everything in place to unveil the memorial in time for the start of the Premiership campaign but it is now thought that it could be a few months before the project is completed.

Work is in the middle stages of the specially-commissioned nine feet bronze statue of Mr Walker.

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said: "The work is still currently in progress so it is difficult to give a time scale as to when it will be finished.

"However, it is hoped that fans won't have to wait too long."