Regent’s Canal barge sinks prompting fears about canal newcomers

Boaters have raised fears that high house prices are prompting people with little knowledge of the water onto barges – as one vessel was hauled out of Regent’s Canal.

The barge, at visitor moorings west of Camden Town, is thought to be one of at least three to run into trouble in the area in as many months.

A neighbouring boater, Jedrek Burakiewicz, said: “I heard they were woken at 4am by the boat filling with water. They didn’t know what had happened.”

The pair cried out to ask neighbours to stash their belongings as the narrowboat became submerged.

Charly Burnett, another neighbour, said: “More and more people are moving onto boats because land rents are so high. People at the poorer end buy the oldest boats and have the least clue.”

However, Sam Thomas, a maintenance manager from British Waterways, said: “Fortunately such occurrences are relatively rare. Boaters of all levels of experience can run into trouble.”