Blaze destroys barge (From Stroud News and Journal)

Blaze destroys barge

A CANAL barge home was destroyed on Monday after it caught fire at Saul Junction.

A 20-strong contingent of firefighters from Stroud and Gloucester battled the flames after the barge Aberystwyth was discovered ablaze at about midday.

Fortunately the owner, who lived on the boat, was not on board at the time but the craft was turned into a floating write-off by the fire. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Bev Booth, spokesman for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "When I got there it was just a smoking wreck.

"We do not deal with many barges - it is not one of our usual incidents."

Fire service riverboats were also called in from Gloucester and Tewkesbury but were not needed at the incident.