Ferry to reopen 'during school holidays'

Ferryman Ben Ellis is looking forward to getting back to work, even though it means setting an early alarm

A small passenger ferry which runs across the River Great Ouse is set to reopen during the school holidays, a councillor said.

The service was previously closed in January after the stairs to the boat, at West Lynn and King's Lynn in Norfolk, were damaged, and fears about passenger safety were raised.

Norfolk County Council and West Norfolk Council funded repairs at a cost of £100,000.

West Norfolk Borough Councillor Michael De Whalley confirmed the ferry would be back up and running "during the school holidays", with most schools in the county breaking up on 22 July.

On the West Lynn side the steps down to the ferry have been rebuilt

There has been a ferry service across the river for 600 years, the council said.

Ben Ellis, who runs the West Lynn Ferry, said he had struggled to support himself financially since the closure in January.

After taking the ferry out on a practice run across the Great Ouse, he said: "You've got the tide and the wind that wants to push me in the mud on the West Lynn side.

"I thought I'd have to have several attempts to get back on the west Lynn steps and the King's Lynn steps, but it's just like riding a bike".

Mr Ellis was keen to get back to transporting passengers as soon as possible but admitted the early alarms were going to be a challenge.

"I'm down here for about half five, quarter to six," he added.

"Just to get all the boats ready, fuelled up and get them all set".

Repair work could only be done at low tide

De Whalley thanked ferry users for their patience while the work took place and said he was excited to see it return.

"The main issue has been safety," he said.

"We've had to review root and branch safety measures for the ferry operation at both landing stages. It's been complicated by working on a 190-year-old jetty".