Health and safety checks on ageing wooden moorings on the Thames at Oxford's Port Meadow have revealed the need for urgent repair work.

Port Meadow moorings, used by about 50 boats, are owned by the city council and operated by Bossoms Boatyard, in return for a share of the income.

In 1995, a programme was established to repair the moorings but only half of them were replaced and last year health and safety inspectors said the remainder should be fixed at the earliest opportunity.

Tom Ballance, owner of Bossoms, said: "The new stagings have a metal framework but the old ones are all wood and they get covered when it floods. They have been deteriorating for 30 years. No-one has had an accident but the work needs to be done."

The city council executive has agreed to raise the 2003/4 budget for repairs from £33,500 to £38,500.

Member Maureen Christian said: "The work should be done as soon as possible, otherwise it could be dangerous."

Fellow member Colin Cook added: "People's boats could float away or someone could slip and fall into the water."