Canal closed after narrow boat hired for stag party became stuck in lock

A section of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bath has been drained as work has begun to remove a boat which got stuck in a lock at the weekend. The 69-foot boat became stuck near Widcombe at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon. It is believed the boat had been hired for the weekend for a stag party but it is not known how many people were on board at the time



No one is thought to have been hurt in the incident. The canal boat was fully submerged in lock number ten at Widcombe. The only visible part of the vessel was the stern. Cans of drink and a life ring could be seen floating in the lock. The Canal and River Trust spokesman, Joe Coggins, said the trust was working on how to remove the boat from the canal lock.



He said: "We got the call about a boat that had tried to go through the lock. It has got stuck on the sill at the back of the lock. As the water has gone out of the lock the front of the boat has also gone down but the back has remained stuck on the sill tipping the boat over. Everyone got off the boat safely, which is the important thing in situations like this.



"We have now closed the canal. We have put pollution mats in the lock to soak up any diesel. We are now looking at the best way to get the boat upright, out of the water and get the canal open again. We are working with local boaters who have had their travel plans disrupted by this."