Water way to breathe life into Stourbridge tourist boat

But now the 70ft boat is ready to be returned to the water ahead of a new season of trips following the five-week restoration project.

The Blackcountryman takes hundreds of passengers on pleasure cruises operated by Stourbridge Navigation Trust.

It is moored at the Stourbridge Town Arm canal basin next to the canalside attraction, the Bonded Warehouse, off Canal Street, Stourbridge.

But after a season of toil up and down the waterways, it was time to take the boat into the trust's dry dock in early January for running repairs.

The fibre glass roof had been cracked having been exposed to the elements over the years and needed a revamp.

Rotten wood has been removed from the roof hatches and replaced, and improvements to the boat's disabled access have been made.

There has also been a paint job to spruce up the outside which will be touched up once the boat is back in the water.

Ashwood-based J H Trimmings have produced new fixtures for the boat during the repair work overseen by dock manager Andy Downing.

The boat made 55 trips last year and Bonded Warehouse manager Colin Clements says they expect more this coming season. It acts as a regular fundraiser to help the navigation trust plough money into the maintenance of the canalside attraction and nearby waterways.

Mr Clement said: "It was in need of a revamp and some running repairs so it was a good time for these to be done.

"The money we spend on the boat is as much an investment in the area because it is a part of the community around here.

"It does feature in the activities that we do here during the year.

"It is looking good now and we are pleased it is going back on the water."