Divers waded into a murky stream to free a boat which became stuck near a bridge after it made a wrong turning.

The Environment Agency cordoned off an area of Oxford's Park End Street, outside Rosie O'Grady's pub, during last night's operation at Castle Mill Stream.

A small crowd gathered to watch the 20ft narrowboat, Bliss, being freed.

Two divers waded through the water to reach the boat, which lay tilted to one side just in front of the bridge.

They attached straps underneath the boat and then a crane lifted it out. After water had been allowed to drain out of it, the boat was refloated and taken to a local yard for inspection and repairs.

The boat came to grief on Wednesday afternoon after the couple on board, Peter White and his wife Valerie, from Leicestershire, took a wrong turn.

It ended up broadside against the bridge and the couple, helped by regulars from the pub, tried to free it with a rope attached to the pub balcony. However, the extra pressure caused the boat to keel over.

The couple had to spend the night in an Oxford hotel. They watched the operation and Mr White asked the divers to retrieve his strong painkillers from the boat as he said he did not want them to get into the wrong hands.

It is thought the boat may have been looted on Wednesday night.

Mr White said: "We had to buy new knickers and shirts because everything was on the boat."

Story date: Friday 21 May

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