Narrowboat Christmas ruined by yobs
Monica Bett was meant to be enjoying a belated Christmas yesterday on board her beloved narrowboat in the Black Country.
But she instead found herself assessing the damage after a suspected vandal attack, in the last few days, left the vessel sinking.
She said: "I was meant to be having a late Christmas Day – a cooked breakfast, my Christmas dinner and walking the dogs but I haven't even opened my presents. It's the furthest thing from my mind now."
The 34ft boat had been moored on the canal in Tipton ready to go through the Netherton tunnel after it reopened in March. But a few nights ago, Ms Bett, aged 59 – who had been on holiday – was told by a friend that her boat had been damaged and was lying side-up in the water.
She said: "It came as a real shock. I've had her 20 years and she's the love of my life. In a way I was lucky it was dark when I first went to see her – it didn't look so bad.
"It's not yet clear how bad the damage is or what has happened to it. If a load of kids got on it and were hanging from it or something there were air vents in the side and it might be okay but if she had a hole put in her then it could be a bit different.
"It's about 20 per cent under water because the water is very shallow so inside the boat she'll be full of water."
Ms Bett, who lives in Walsall, has spoken to the police and initial investigations are taking place.
She has also spent time on the phone to the boat's insurers, adding: "They should cover it but, if they don't, then I don't know what I'll do."
