A FLOTILLA of eight rare steamboats will be coming to Stroud this weekend making their way down the newly navigable stretch of canal between Ebley Wharf and Stonehouse.

Steamboats reached their hey-day in the Victorian and Edwardian eras and bridged the gap between sail and the combustion engine.

They ranged from small leisure boats like the ones coming to Stroud on Saturday, June 27 to major ocean-going liners.

Colin Rudall from the Steamboat Association of Great Britain said: “We are always looking for new places to hold rallies.

"I was brought up here in the sixties when the canal was neglected and abandoned.

"The contrast now is a joy to behold.”

The SBA has about a thousand members and 300 or so steamboats.

Colin added: “The boats coming to Stroud are modern day replicas based on traditional designs.

"We are quite a sight to behold when we sail as a flotilla.”

Rallies are held all over the country by the steamboat enthusiasts. The boats, which weigh up to a ton or more, are transported by car on the back of trailers.

The SBA is always looking for new members to get involved.

As usual, the Cotswold Canals Trust boat, Endeavour, will be also be at Ebley Wharf on the day for visitors who fancy a trip down the canal.