Sunken Barge In Tiverton

Canal rangers in Tiverton have spent the day trying to lift a sunken barge from the Grand Western Canal. The 100-year-old barge sank last week. Our reporter Bob Cruwys was there today to see it brought to safety.

The barge has now been towed back to the canal basin. It was taking on water quite quickly so it was dragged onto a slipway to stop it sinking any further where the holes were discovered.

It took about 20 mins to pump out the water but the barge is just about floating again. The outboard motor and battery were removed earlier in the week so it can't move anywhere under its own power.

Canal ranger Mark Baker (pictured) says they don't know why it started sinking. It is possible the contractors who were doing the tree surgery work dropped heavy logs into the boat and pierced the hull. Or it might have simply rusted through over the years.

Rangers have begun pumping water out of a sunken barge on Tiverton's Grand Western Canal. It started sinking last week while tree surgery work was being carried out along the bank.

Once it has been re-floated it will then be towed back to the canal basin for repairs.

Canal rangers in Tiverton are trying to lift a sunken barge in the Grand Western Canal. It's used for maintenance tasks along the waterway and began sinking near Tidcombe Lane last week. They tried to plug a leak in the barge at the end of last week but it sunk again over the weekend.