IT’S enough to make Rosie and Jim quake in their barges.

Boat users travelling too fast along the River Thames may end up in court.

The Environment Agency is launching a crackdown on speeding after a growing number of incidents involving speeding sailors.

Radar gun operator Matt Strange and colleagues were out on the river bank at Abingdon today.

He said: “In the past year, we’ve seen a notable rise in the amount of speeding boats. This is our way of saying it won’t be tolerated.

“Last year, someone was taken to court for speeding and fined more than £1,000, so we’re serious.

“If we catch you, you will be flagged down by an interceptor boat and given a warning, possibly more.”

During the checks, no boats were found to be breaking the four knot speed limit – about 5mph.

Mick Jones, secretary of the Abbey Sailing Club, where the checks took place, said: “I don’t think it’s much of a problem, to be honest, although you do get the odd youngster going a bit too fast.”

The faster a boat moves, the more wash it creates, which can damage wildlife habitats and cause soil erosion.