A BOAT previously owned by The Woolpack in Slad was discovered in a barn, but has since been recommissioned by a sailor after decades of being covered in dust.

Peter Benn, the boat's skipper, found the vessel at a barn in Bisley and as a serving member of the Royal Navy, Peter's instinct was to restore the boat.

The decision led to hours of hard labour for the Benn family with some aged timber framing having to be replaced along with repairs to the fibre-glass hull.

As Peter was rubbing down the hull the word 'Woolpack' was unearthed, prompting him to make enquiries.

This led to the discovery that 25 years ago the boat was owned by the licensee of a famous pub, The Woolpack in Slad.

Since then Peter has enjoyed trips down Thames and Severn Canal even stopping off for lunch at the Upper Lock Café in Wallbridge.

Peter Best, chair of Stroud Valley Canal Company welcomes visiting boats, canoes and kayaks to the waterways of Stroud, despite ongoing restoration work.

"Volunteers are actively engaged in dredging the channel of the two canals, so mud barges tugs and dredgers may well be encountered," said Peter.

It seems Stroud's waterways will soon be restored for the years to come.