MEMBERS of the City of Oxford Rowing Club can now take to the water without fear of tripping up or falling into the river, thanks to a £22,000 project to replace the club's landing stage.

And as rowers tried out the new facility, club treasurer Amy Jackson said: "It's a great relief that everything is now done.

"We hope against hope that nothing major will need doing to it for about a decade.

"It had been patched and repatched and we were rather ashamed of it. There were also health and safety issues because people could have tripped up or fallen in the river."

Oxford City Council offered a grant of £10,000 for the work but thanks to £5,000 from Oxford colleges that use the area round Donnington Bridge, £8,500 from the Awards for All Lottery money and fundraising by the members themselves, only a part of the city council's money will be needed.

Ms Jackson paid tribute to rower David Fisher, who masterminded the project. She said: "He really drove it along and it is largely down to him that we now have this new landing stage."

The 200-strong club was formed 40 years ago and has members aged 11-85.