'Hugely loved' pleasure boat sunk by vandals

The Duchess of Cocklemoor was vandalised and sunk on Tuesday night

A "hugely loved" community pleasure boat has been damaged and partially sunk by vandals.

The Duchess of Cocklemoor was targeted on Tuesday night while it was moored on the River Parrett in Langport in Somerset.

Mud was thrown over the roof and the bilge pumps, which kept the boat afloat, were switched off.

Councillor Ian McNab said the boat, which is powered by solar panels, had sustained "a lot of damage" with most of the electrics needing to be replaced.

The vandals threw mud on the solar panel roof and turned off the bilge pumps, which caused the boat to sink

Avon and Somerset Police said it was investigating "a report of criminal damage" leading to the sinking.

The boat, a former ferry built in 1908, had only recently been restored and Mr McNab said the damage had led to cancellations.

"The batteries appear to be saveable but the solar chargers, all of that has to be replaced," he said.

"We had 12 ladies on their way down to travel on the boat, so I had to ring them up and cancel. They were enormously disappointed."

He added that the local community had rallied around and the boat could be up and running again over the weekend.

"We have great volunteers who help run the run the thing and she's nearly back together.

"Had she been in deeper water, I don't know how we would have done it.

"The wave of love and support that followed this unfortunate little incident is just extraordinary."