The Isle of Dogs’ Mudchute Farm might not be so muddy in future thanks to a �36,000 project to improve its access road.

The 34-acre city farm can be inaccessible in poor weather to the elderly and those with wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The path to the farm and around its fields was originally built to serve the Ack-Ack gun batteries during World War Two.

It was damaged by bombs during the Blitz, becoming pot-holed and uneven and can be impassable following wet weather due to puddles of standing water.

Visitors will have a better chance to see the farm’s animals, including cows, pigs, goats and llamas, if the road has improved drainage.

Waste management company Veolia is donating �29,000 to the project through a percentage of their landfill tax payments which they can donate to good causes.

The remainder of the costs were raised by supporters of the farm.

Dr Mike Barraclough, a Mudchute Association trustee, said: “The new road will hopefully rid us of our nick-name ‘muddy Mudchute’, given to us by some of the teachers who have to cut short their visits and take their pupils back with their shoes caked in mud.

“We also hope by improving the road we can increase the number of visitors in the winter months and make their visit more enjoyable.”

Work is already underway on the road, which will be surfaced with tarmac.