River Severn so low that cruises may be off

A boat service which takes tourists on tours of the River Severn in Ironbridge could be forced to halt its service – because of plummeting river levels.

Normally river levels can be more than three metres deep – but a lack of rainfall and the warm spell has seen those level dip.

Roger Bell, who runs Ironbridge Scenic River Services, said in places the boat was only a couple of inches from the bottom.

And they will have to consider what services they could run if no rain falls in the next couple of weeks.

The Environment Agency said today river flows on the Severn, measured at the gauging point closest to the county at Bewdley, were now the second lowest on record.

Mr Bell said: "We are worried about is the lack of water. The water in the river is getting shallow."

Mr Bell said: "We need roughly about 2ft of water and it's very very close in places – about a couple of inches above the bottom."

Catherine Ellis, Environment Agency spokesman, said last year had been the driest in the Midlands for more than 90 years and the region, including Shropshire, was at high risk of drought this spring/summer.

She said: "Much of Shropshire has large reserves of water underground which are normally replenished by winter rainfall.

"This year insufficient rainfall has been received to allow groundwater levels to rise. This means underground water feeding rivers will be reduced in summer and springs and groundwater fed ponds may dry up."

In Shropshire, the river level at Welsh Bridge yesterday was 0.49m compared to a typical range of 0.42m and 2.70m.

The level at Buildwas was 0.46m compared to a normal range of between 0.42m and 3.40m. While at Bridgnorth the level was 0.55m with a normal range of 0.52m and 3.60m.